Ganesh idols grow into plants in sustainable Pune initiative
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Dr Akshay Kauthale and his team at Vruskh Gajanan in Pune, India, create Ganesha idols from farm soil that devotees can use to grow plants.
Beginning in 2018, the initiative aimed to reduce water pollution caused by traditional idol immersions. The idols, made from soil sourced from the Bor region of Pune, dissolve in water within 30 to 45 minutes, and the resulting mixture can be used to grow a Krishna Tulsi plant, an indigenous species, from provided seeds.
Vruskh Gajanan partners with Padma Shri recipient Rahibai Soma Popere to source the Krishna Tulsi seeds, prioritizing authentic varieties over common hybrids. Over the past few years, this collaboration has resulted in the planting of over 150,000 Tulsi saplings. The company produces 75,000 to 100,000 idols each year at a facility near Hadapsar, employing around 200 women. Kauthale’s family supports the initiative, with his father, an agricultural scientist, involved in research and development.
The farm-soil idols have gained recognition beyond India, reaching devotees in countries including the US, Canada, and the UAE, and even being delivered to Rashtrapati Bhavan and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Since its inception, Vruskh Gajanan has sold every idol it produces, demonstrating a growing demand for eco-friendly religious practices.
