Kharghar: Science, technology and devotion came together at the Shirolkar residence in Sector 7, Kharghar, where senior citizens Kamal Narayan Shirolkar, 80, and his wife Swati, 70, created a futuristic Mars colony as part of their 10-day Ganeshotsav decoration.

Using household waste and discarded materials, the couple recreated a vision of human life on Mars, with the Ganesha idol placed at the centre of the installation. The display featured protective glass domes, solar panels, a spacecraft landing zone and a central control room representing the management of the colony.

Broken toughened glass was creatively used to depict the icy polar landscape of Mars. The fragments resembled ice crystals, helping the couple recreate the planet’s harsh environment while illustrating how humans could potentially survive in controlled habitats.

Kamal Narayan Shirolkar, a retired executive from the Nuclear Corporation, said the idea was inspired by the broken glass available at home. He explained that the installation sought to portray how glass domes could provide favourable conditions for human habitation on a planet with a hostile atmosphere, poor soil and exposure to cosmic radiation.

The model also incorporated solar energy systems, plant-growth modules and igloo-style shelters representing possible settlements near the Martian equator.

The unusual installation drew visitors, who admired the couple’s ability to combine scientific concepts with artistic creativity and religious devotion. Visitors said the display offered a visually engaging way of imagining life beyond Earth while demonstrating how everyday waste could be transformed into an imaginative and educational Ganeshotsav decoration.