Author: Staff Reporter
Publication: The Hindu
Date: August 22, 2005
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/22/stories/2005082215550300.htm
Watercolours to be used instead of paint
Following a court ruling, the Hindu Munnani
is making "environmental-friendly" Vinayaka idols to be immersed
in water bodies during this year's Vinayaka Chaturti that falls on September
7.
Its State organiser, N. Muruganandam, told
presspersons here on Friday that instead of plaster of Paris, the members
of the Hindu outfit would use only papier-mache for making the idols. Similarly,
they would use only watercolours instead of paint.
Special pujas would be performed for around
25,000 idols of Lord Vinayaka across the country, he said.
A total of 400 idols, including 150 in Madurai,
would be taken in procession in the district on September 9. The founder of
Hindu Munnani, Ramagopalan, and South India Organiser of Ithikasa Sangatan
Samiti, T.V. Rengarajan, would participate in the procession.
"The objective of taking out a procession
is to inculcate knowledge of Hinduism among children, to explain the philosophy
of the Hindu festival among women and to eradicate untouchability and casteist
differences in society," he added.
A procession and conference will be organised
in Dindigul on December 18 to mark the silver jubilee of Hindu Munnani.
