Concerned about the rising pollution levels in the city's water bodies and the increasing number of anti-social elements that loiter around the usual visarjan venues every year, the Pestom Sagar Citizens’ Forum has created four artificial wells for immersing idols.
Eight feet deep and up to 12 feet in diameter, these wells are actually water tanks, often installed in societies and homes. Says Dr Vijay Sanghole, a member of the forum, “The project is sponsored by Prince Containers, who also provided us with the tanks. Each tank costs around Rs 5,000. Some artists in our locality helped us design the tanks in such a way that they look like village wells.”
The wells have been beautified tastefully with a black stonewall covering. A pathway laid neatly with interlocking tiles leads to these wells, creating a traditional village look.
Says Sheetal Sanghole (53), the brain behind the park and a self-confessed nature lover, “Till recently, there were three lakes in Chembur that used to meet at one point—aptly named Teen Talao. For the past few years though, two of the lakes have died, probably due to regular dumping. Now the land where the lakes once gurgled has been encroached upon. The only existing lake is fast drying too.”
It was this predicament that had Sanghole build her own mini well in her backyard five years ago. Tremendous response from friends and other senior citizens helped forum members build a well in their society last year. “It was such a big hit that this year we decided to go full-fledged with four wells in the nana-nani park,” she said.
Subash Kulkarni, 62, who had come for immersion along with his family from Ghatkopar, says, “We are very happy about immersing our idols here—the ambiance is neat, tidy, systematic, calm and cool—it promotes an atmosphere of devotion. At the beach or the lakes there is so much of hassle, it's not just a very unholy atmosphere but also very difficult for old people to perform visarjan.”
For generations, Kulkarni said, his family had been getting clay idols home. “For us it has been a tradition. We get ‘shadoo’ (clay) idols, made-to-order by a local karigar every year. ‘Shadoo’ doesn’t cause any harm to the environment and dissolves easily.”
After the final day of visarjan, the Forum members plan to send all the plaster of Paris (PoP) wastes to dumping grounds, purify the water and recycle it in the garden itself. “We are encouraging people to use shadoo Ganpatis, but those who still use PoP idols are also welcome to immerse in our wells,” Dr Sanghole said. The members are expecting over 1,000 immersions in their wells this year. “If more people come, then next year we will add a few more wells in the park,” added Dr Sanghole.