Maharashtra is currently celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, the state’s most significant festival, which lasts for ten days. Homes, streets, and public pandals are adorned with vibrant decorations, music, and lights as devotees eagerly welcome Lord Ganesha. The festival typically kicks off with families bringing home a Ganesh idol on the first day. During the following days, devotees offer prayers, fruits, flowers, and sweets while numerous public pandals provide prasad and host communal meals.

The festivities culminate in the poignant moment of Ganesh Visarjan, where attendees bid farewell to Bappa by immersing the idols in water. However, once the processions conclude and devotees return to their homes, a critical question arises: what happens to the waste generated by these celebrations?

Management of Immersion Waste

The scale of idol immersion during Ganesh Chaturthi is substantial. In 2025, a total of 1,97,114 Ganesh idols were immersed in Mumbai, comprising household, public, and Gauri idols. Mumbai’s civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), reportedly recovered 1,982 metric tonnes of Plaster of Paris (PoP) from immersion sites. This year, the BMC has increased its efforts by establishing 348 designated immersion sites, including 281 artificial ponds and various beaches and lakes. Special equipment and personnel have been deployed to manage the immersion process effectively.

The BMC’s objectives extend beyond mere removal of idols from water. They have implemented a system to retrieve PoP idols from artificial ponds within 24 hours post-immersion. The recovered materials are transported for further processing, with officials examining opportunities to repurpose the material for creating new idols, plasterboards, ceramics, and other construction-related products.

Furthermore, various techniques are being explored to ensure that the environmental impact of the idols is minimised while maximising the reuse of materials involved in the celebrations.

Collection and Processing of Prasad and Nirmalya

The waste produced during Ganeshotsav is not limited to idols alone; a significant amount also comprises flowers, garlands, and other religious offerings, collectively referred to as nirmalya. In 2025, approximately 508 metric tonnes of nirmalya were collected at designated immersion sites in Mumbai. According to the BMC, this waste is transformed into compost, which is subsequently utilised in the city’s gardens. Residents are encouraged to deposit their offerings in designated nirmalya containers rather than discarding them in water bodies.

The management of food waste, particularly prasad, presents another waste challenge during the festival. This year, efforts are underway to convert some of this waste into a resource through initiatives like the ‘Prasad to Power’ scheme, particularly at Lalbaugcha Raja. It is estimated that 8 to 10 metric tonnes of wet waste, including food, will be collected daily. Rather than conventional disposal methods, this waste will be sent to biomethanation plants located at hospitals for processing.

The objective is to manage at least 80 metric tonnes of organic waste over the ten-day celebration, generating around 7,744 units of renewable electricity to be utilised across various hospital facilities, including patient wards and common areas.

Comprehensive Waste Management Approach

The BMC has structured a multifaceted approach to address the diverse types of waste generated during the festival. Idols are retrieved and processed separately, while nirmalya is collected for the composting process. Additionally, organic waste from significant celebrations is being managed through biomethanation facilities. This year’s arrangements reflect the BMC’s broader strategy aimed at effective waste management for Ganeshotsav.

From the immersion of idols to the disposal of flowers and food remnants, a systematic collection and process method has been established across Mumbai for the festival. The concerted efforts aim to harness the waste generated during the festivities and transform it into sustainable solutions, thereby addressing both environmental and resource challenges effectively.

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