Ecological roots are found in clay idols. Elsie Gabriel Here’s a step by step means of making your own Ganesha idol this year. Young Environmentalists NGO.

Ecological roots are found in clay idols . Eco Friendly festivals.

Here’s a step by step means of making your own Ganesha idol this year. 

Making idols of Clay is an ancient craft and is basically a tradition which can be revived in cities
 too,to help find our ecological roots.Clay art has transformed but believe me till this day artists 
make idols for Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Durga and Lord Ganesha,for the annual festivals out  
of river mud or clay as a major source of employment. Making clay idols is nothing new. 
We simply have to revive it.Potters made a livelihood out of this creative arts. In the ancient times
 of course our first farmers were connected to earth through agriculture and then the potters were
 also closely connected to earth by clay crafts. Local clay and earthen crafts are till today 
an integral part in the Indian rural scenario, despite  the rapid social and technological changes that are taking place.

The most common example around you is the terracotta idols you see in art shops or in villages. 

Terracotta objects are mostly built by molding the clay with hand or with the wheel. Terracotta is extensively 

used for making deity images in temples and other monuments.Clay artists made utensils for cooking, made bricks

 and even curios.

There fore year after year we the Young Environmentalists NGO here in Mumbai keep teaching the youth 

and community how to make their own Ganesha idols.One can’t merely tell people to be Eco-friendly, but when you show them how, you bring out the artist in them.Not only do they understand the concept of an 

eco friendly idol, they pledge never to buy a POP idol.They in turn spread the ecological message during the 

festival,simply by doing and watching.  

 Step one- take any good garden clay right from your own back yard which is free, potters clay for 

a minimal amount or silt from the river bed. For the last ten years we have been using clay from the

 River Mithi and Powai lake silt to create awareness about the water bodies.Clean it and sieve it and 

cure it till it becomes earth which feels like clean soft putty in your hands. 
Use the right amount of water,not too much and not too little.

You will know when it’s right enough when it feels like kindergarten clay.

1. 
   

The fact that;you are playing with clay is healing and connecting you to Mother Earth ,even without 

you realizing it.  

 Make two parts.One portion gola or round earth bigger in size you can keep for the body or torso

 of the Lord Ganesha.Remember to give the idol a sweet little 
'paunch' or stomach by which Lord Ganesha 

is so fondly known for. Mold it in your hands and let it sit on the ground flat.You can create a clay platform

 for the idol way in advance or have a wooden tiny stage to place your idol on.

Now make another gola or ball using the smaller portion.This is what you will make the head with.

Give good finishing touches to them.

Now place the smaller portion on top of the bigger portion and smoothen out the attachment by 

pinching and pressing both parts to make the body look even.Use little water to smoothen.

Keep a picture of Lord Ganesha near you while sculpting so you can get an idea of 

what you would like your idol to look like.Be free,let your energy flow and simply give

 in to creating your own very design.There is no hard and fast rule.

Now get a third portion and roll out a long trunk, twisting it to the right.Attach the trunk to

 the body smoothly again.

Use two cylindrical long portions of clay to make the hands and keep another two elongated portions 

to create the legs.Attach them to the torso like in the picture in front of you.

Be as unique and creative as you want.The more you work on the idol the more you will 

see a beautiful Ganesha murti emerging right before your very eyes.

Make two large button size clay ears.Make them large and fanciful or elongated to look artistic

 like in the picture.   

Once you finish the hands, legs and trunk, shape and texture the sculpture into its final shape 

by using toothpicks or a carving blunt knife. Use your remaining clay to add details like ‘modaks’ in 

one hand of the idol, a ‘mukut’ crown for the Lord and even create the ‘mouse’ or vehicle of Lord 

Ganesha.Ganesha's divine vehicle as it is said, the mouse or mooshikam represents wisdom.

 You may leave it artistically raw in colour or shape or colour it with eco friendly colours and flowers.

Clay and mud helps you connect with Mother Earth.

Teaching the blind and disabled to experience clay therapy. 

Eco Ganesha clay idol making workshop campaigns over the last ten years..by Young Environmentalists NGO.

Planting mangrove saplings. Elsie Gabriel. Mangrove ecosystem of Mumbai.

Mangrove ecosystem of Airoli,Mumbai.

Planting mangrove saplings. Elsie Gabriel.

By Elsie Gabriel.

Mumbai,India has had a rich and diverse ecosystem of mangrove forests, which were silently being destroyed in

 the past. In recent years, thanks to a national strategy these mangrove forests are being slowly restored. 

I have been on many mangroves tours all over the world, researching and studying these walking roots in

 Mauritius,Cairns, Bali,Thailand, Orissa, Kerala,Maldives and Sri Lanka, and our very own largest mangrove

 delta in the Sundarbans. Chasing mud skippers and red crabs have almost become a hobby with me, leave alone 

sliding and falling in the the the slush of the pure river/ocean clay...

It was wonderful joining the forest department of Maharashtra once again at Airoli Mumbai, planting 

saplings in the rain and learning more about how mangrove trees can be regenerated.

The reason why its important to promote commitment to mangrove protection is to defend the mangrove zones

 from local shrimp and fish farmers, also protect the coast buffers from sewage and pollution as well as protect

 Mumbai’s coastal inhabitants from the ravages of tsunamis and storms. These submerged, coastal forests act 

as buffers against the sea, reducing potentially devastating waves into harmless, centimetre-high ripples.

For new nature enthusiasts,Mangroves are tropical plants that are usually found growing in wetlands, 

swamps and along warm-weather coastlines. Planting mangroves saplings is not easy. The entire watershed 

has to be studied and seedlings have to be watched and protected.Right amount fo water and sunshine

 both have to aid their growth. 

 For that reason, it’s important to plant trees along the island coastline to improve forest cover and ensure the functions of protection.The delicate balance of the ecosystem  either accept the new saplings or reject them. The successful restoration of a system of mangrove forests can help protect coastal forests, enabling the people to stabilize their life based on the forest resources without destroying the mangrove plantations.

Mangrove ecosystems are highly productive but extremely sensitive and fragile.  

Believe me...Millions of people right here in Mumbai pass by mangrove zones, shrubs and forests without

 realizing its worth and pass them off as filthy areas with small bushy trees.....Mangrove forests are undergoing

 constant seasonal, due to their dynamic nature and through various natural and biotic influences. 

Mangrove forests not only support coastal marine life but also protect the coast from erosion and serve

 as breeding, feeding and nursery grounds for estuarine and marine organisms. 

 Therefore, monitoring mangrove habitat is an essential component in coastal marine ecological studies and coastal management. Traditional field surveys inside mangrove swamps are quite cumbersome.Remote Sensing which emerges as a valuable tool for fast, efficient and accurate means of information retrieval to detect causes, extent and modification of structural changes over time. The information gained is utilized for effective planning and management of mangrove forests. Climate change, rising sea level and increasing intensity of rainfall make the city vulnerable to natural calamities. The Mangrove cell here in Mumbai India needs to be revived with all stakeholders as members. Conduct regular meetings and enhance each others work with with technical and ground support. Visual interpretation techniques and Change detection studies should be continuos and well supported and so is strict implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) to safeguard the mangroves.Develop campaigns on the impact of destruction of mangroves on the coastal environment.We can also promote activities that support sustainable growth of mangroves. 

Different departments and agencies such as Forests, Revenue, 

Urban development, Fisheries, MMRDA,CIDCO, MHADA should also play an active part.  

Although the Forest department is the nodal agency at the state level for conservation and development

 of mangrove areas, under their guidance we all NGOs and communities and experts and stakeholders 

must unite to take this mangrove mission forward.. 

 The government declared mangroves as "reserved forests",but much settlement of rights of people who

 live off the mangrove land is balance. So much is yet to be done.
Such a shame that even flamingo's prime birds of the mangrove areas are hunted down for meat just few months 

ago as reports have come in,so if the mangrove birds are not spared ,think of what will happen to the mangrove zones. 

Of course encroaches are our biggest challenge today.

We do have independent campaigners working for the conservation of mangroves and in community-based 

forest governance,todays meet is a call out to unite under one mangrove umbrella and concretize plans to

 meet every month or quarterly to take this mangrove mission head one. 

The meeting dated July 30th 2014 held jointly by the Forest department of Maharashtra 

and NGO Young Environmentalists Programme trust had the environmentalists of Mumbai and Mangrove

 experts unite to share information, case studies and also join hands with the hard working

 officials of the forest department to fight for the protection and rejuvenation of Mangroves in Maharashtra.

Powai Lake walk in the rain! Elsie Gabriel

Powai Lake walk in the rain! 

Powai lake in Mumbai.

My daily evening walks drew me to the Powai lake once again today. My weekly haunt. I took a quick call to visit the periphery of the lake borders and extended my footsteps towards where the waterfall beckoned. With each step closer to the Ambedkar Garden, I could hear gushing sounds of water, the sound of rain going on an overdrive flow. The sound of nature. The healing sound of blessings from heaven. Rain does do something to you. Rain not only drenches you, it controls you, takes over you and when you give in to a beautiful walk in the rain, specially without an umbrella or a care in the world, you know that it is Nature, nature becoming one with you. Rain involves you, it revives you, it wakes you up and most of all quenches your thirst for nature in all its being.  

 

Is this Powai ,is this Powai!!Natures offering to Powai.Pic Elsie Gabriel

I would like to share with you that it is said that the Powai lake was built by the British, in the year 1799 A.D.  Powai is situated in the North East of Mumbai and is gifted with the Powai lake. The Powai dam and reservoir made in 1889,is located at the Dr.Ambedkar Garden, popularly known as the BMC Powai Garden. Having conducted over 200 nature walks in the garden I know it like the back of my hand, but every time I step into its labyrinths I am offered new findings.

 

Come take a nature walk with me in Powai.

Old nature trail paths give way to new....

The garden is maintained by BMC and is under 'S' ward, although the Powai Lake comes under the Hydraulic department of the North East zone and under the care of the Additional Municipal Commissioner of Projects. I have spent hours fishing here and exploring the jungles much before it got its present manicured lawns and benches.

The Powai lake ecosystem is teeming with life and it cannot be neglected! Investigating the physical, chemical and biological relationships that take place in and around the Powai Lake is important because they are tied to the environment surrounding them; investigation of the floodplains, drainage basins and the atmosphere is vital. Every week I study the eutrophication of this water body. Eutrophication is a natural process that has caused this lake to age. However, human-caused, accelerated eutrophication has occurred more rapidly, and caused problems in the affected water body. Urban and industrial runoff also contribute to eutrophication but here in Powai we have garbage, silt, mountain mud, storm water drains over flowing, specially during the heavy rains. You have to walk in the rain and literally watch this for your self, right before your eyes.

Rich nutrient input stimulates growth of duck weed, water hyacinths, algae which change the lake as their populations increase. This is particularly the case when they undergo population explosions, basically as the chemicals like phosphates and nitrates..example-fertilizers make the lake more productive. That is why you see more green in the lake than you see water.

All pics copyright elsiegabriel

When the carpet of thick green stops sun light penetrating into the water, this decreases the productivity of plants living in the deeper waters. The water becomes depleted in oxygen. When the abundant algae die and decompose, much oxygen is consumed by those decomposers.  Lowered oxygen results in the death of fish that need high levels of dissolved oxygen .All this happens below deep beneath the lake that you pass by everyday in your bus or car.
The powia lake tries to fight it off as much as it can but starts to stagnate each year when the contractor is laid off. There is an organic relationship between the lakes and river systems. For the fifteens years that I have lived in Powai I believe there is a bond between the hills and the lake, and watching the space between them tighten pains me.

Old Powai Garden nature trails pic Elsie Gabriel

There are many bird species inside the Powai Lake ,some of them are Common & White  throated Kingfishers, Herons, small blue Kingfishers, both Phesant tailed and Bronze winged Jacanas . Around 30 odd bird species visit the lake during  December to May. The frequently seen birds in this period are Black winged stilts, Jacanas, coots, spot billed ducks, little cormorant,  little grebe, glossy ibis, white ibis, whiskered terns,  yellow wagtail, pied mayna, osprey and many more. Oriental Magpie Robins, Coppersmith Barbets and Parakeets, Bulbuls, Common Tailorbirds are among others. There species of fish like the Rahu,Katla,Catfish and Mrigal as well various species of snails, crocodiles and turtles too all part of the habitat! Duck weed, water lilies and water hyacinths are some plants of the lake. Conservation has to be stressed upon where ultimately there will exist a balance between development and Nature! Powai lake and it’s habitat should be treasured ,where in a city filled with concrete jungles can one find a lake and rich bio-diversity?

Come visit the Powai lake in all its glory during the monsoons. Take back a connection with nature which will stay with you till eternity…..

 

Give credit where it is due..good job BMC-Wet and Dry bins..use them wisely...found these outside the garden....