Advocating for the use of eco-friendly Ganesh idols instead of those made from Plaster of Paris (POP), city-based craftsman Moreswar Pawar has crafted the tallest and most elegant Ganesh idol of the season using paper mâché. Standing at 10 feet tall and weighing just 10 kilograms, this remarkable idol is made entirely from old newspapers in a dry condition. "The material used for making this 10-foot idol is nothing but old newspaper, making it completely biodegradable and lightweight. It can easily be immersed in water and will dissolve within 3-4 hours, leaving no remains behind," explained Professor Pawar.

Moreswar Pawar, the former Dean of J.J. School of Art, is a prominent advocate of eco-friendly Ganesh idols. Nearly two decades ago, he began spreading awareness about using green alternatives among local mandals, crafting idols from various mediums, including sadu clay. In recent years, he has focused on creating lightweight Ganesh idols exclusively from old newspapers. "The weight of the idol corresponds to the weight of the newspaper used, making it incredibly light. Though the method of crafting is quite tedious and time-consuming, the idol is entirely biodegradable," Pawar noted.

While discussing the use of paper pulp, he mentioned that idols made from it tend to be much heavier, which contrasts with the current trend favoring lightweight idols. Therefore, paper and paper mâché idols are increasingly in demand.

The four conventional methods of crafting eco-friendly idols include using sadu clay from Gujarat, red soil from farmland mixed with gum and organic materials, paper pulp, and the increasingly popular paper mâché due to its lightweight properties.