Bhagyashree backs Gomay Ganesh for eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi 2026
Synopsis
Bhagyashree is urging fans to swap PoP Ganpati idols — still used by an estimated 90% of households — for Gomay Ganesh, made from cow dung and natural materials. Her pitch: after the puja, immerse it in your garden, and it turns into fertiliser, keeping 'Bappa' with you all year while sparing rivers and lakes from chemical contamination.
Key Takeaways
Actress Bhagyashree promoted Gomay Ganesh on Instagram on 13 September 2026 , ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi .
An estimated 90% of households still use Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols, which harm aquatic ecosystems during visarjan.
Gomay Ganesh idols are made from cow dung blended with natural materials such as clay or multani mitti.
After the puja, the idol can be immersed in a home garden, where it decomposes into a natural fertiliser.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has repeatedly flagged PoP idols as a source of heavy metal contamination in water bodies.
Actress Bhagyashree has called on her followers to embrace an eco-friendly approach to Ganesh Chaturthi this year, spotlighting Gomay Ganesh — idols crafted from cow dung — as a sustainable alternative to conventional Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols. The appeal came through an Instagram post shared on Sunday, 13 September 2026, ahead of the festival.
The Case Against Plaster of Paris
Bhagyashree highlighted that an estimated 90% of households still bring home Ganpati idols made from PoP, a material that dissolves poorly in water and releases chemicals harmful to aquatic ecosystems during visarjan. Despite growing awareness, the shift away from PoP has remained slow, making celebrity advocacy increasingly significant in nudging consumer behaviour.
What Is Gomay Ganesh
Gomay Ganesh idols are made primarily from cow dung, often blended with natural binders such as clay or multani mitti. Unlike PoP, the material is fully biodegradable. Bhagyashree noted that after the puja, a Gomay Ganesh idol can be immersed directly in a home garden rather than a water body, where it decomposes and acts as a natural fertiliser for soil and plants.
She described the concept as not merely eco-friendly but 'eco-nourishing', drawing on an older village tradition of using cow dung for sanitation and pest control in homes — a practice she argued carries scientific validity even today.
Bhagyashree's Message in Her Own Words
In her caption, the 'Maine Pyar Kiya' actress wrote: 'Iss Ganesh Chaturthi, Gomay Ganesh ke saath ek aisi parampara chuniye jo visarjan ke baad bhi nature ko kuch lautaye.' She added that cow dung has historically been used as a fertiliser and for sanitation, and that Gomay Ganesh was developed keeping this science in mind. She urged followers to immerse the idol in their garden after the puja to return nourishment to the soil.
Broader Context: Eco-Friendly Festivals on the Rise
Environmental authorities and courts across India have for several years issued advisories and, in some cases, directives encouraging the use of clay or natural-material idols over PoP ones ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has repeatedly flagged PoP idols as a source of heavy metal contamination in rivers and lakes. Bhagyashree's post adds to a growing chorus of public figures lending visibility to sustainable festival practices, though behavioural change at scale remains a challenge given price differences and availability constraints.
With Ganesh Chaturthi 2026 under way, whether mainstream adoption of alternatives like Gomay Ganesh accelerates this season will be closely watched by environmental groups and civic bodies alike.
Point of View
But the 90% PoP figure underscores how little has changed despite years of court advisories and CPCB guidelines. The real bottleneck is supply and affordability: Gomay Ganesh idols remain harder to find and, in many markets, costlier than mass-produced PoP alternatives. Until sustainable idols are priced and distributed competitively, social media campaigns — however well-intentioned — are unlikely to move aggregate behaviour at the scale needed to protect India's urban water bodies. The conversation needs to shift from individual choice to supply-side reform.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gomay Ganesh?
Gomay Ganesh is a Ganpati idol made from cow dung, often mixed with natural materials such as clay or multani mitti. It is fully biodegradable and can be immersed in a home garden after the puja, where it decomposes and acts as a natural fertiliser.
Why is Plaster of Paris bad for Ganesh Chaturthi visarjan?
Plaster of Paris dissolves poorly in water and releases chemicals and heavy metals that are harmful to aquatic life. The Central Pollution Control Board has repeatedly flagged PoP idols as a major source of water body contamination during festival immersions.
What did Bhagyashree say about Gomay Ganesh?
Bhagyashree described Gomay Ganesh as not just eco-friendly but 'eco-nourishing', drawing on the traditional use of cow dung for sanitation and fertilisation. She urged followers to immerse the idol in their garden after the puja to return nourishment to soil and plants.
How many people still use PoP Ganpati idols?
According to Bhagyashree's Instagram post, around 90% of households still bring home Ganpati idols made from Plaster of Paris, despite growing awareness of the environmental harm they cause.
How is Gomay Ganesh different from clay idols?
While clay idols are also biodegradable, Gomay Ganesh is specifically made from cow dung blended with natural binders. Its proponents argue it has additional benefits — decomposing into a nutrient-rich fertiliser when immersed in soil, rather than simply dissolving in water.
