MUMBAI: In a novel experiment, the tissue paper Ganesh idol of Mumbaicha Peshwa of Vile Parle was swiftly immersed under jets of water from sprinklers Friday.Moortikar Rajesh Mayekar, a founding member, carved a balancing idol of the Saptarshi and Goddess Saraswati. He said, “Our concept was ‘Majhi Murti Majhi Jawabdari’. Amid the legal battles over PoP idols and visarjan in natural water bodies, we assumed responsibility. We set up overhead sprinklers and once the idol was drenched, the tissue paper dissolved within 30-45 minutes.We will reuse the surrounding decor.” Mayekar also used a water hose to immerse his 26-ft tall idol inside a business hub in Chandivli.Mandal president Vijay Naikude said, “We were the first to carve a tissue paper idol in 2008 and the first sarvajanik mandal in Vile Parle to use the BMC’s artificial tank for immersion in 2017. Today 11-12 idols are immersed there.”
