Telangana: 14.5-foot eco-friendly Ganesh idol draws thousands of devotees in Warangal

Warangal (Telangana) [India], September 14 : The Sri Siddhi Vigneshwara Utsav Committee in Warangal, Telangana, has attracted thousands of devotees with a 14.5-foot Ganesh idol, decorated entirely with foam flowers.
In continuation of a tradition started in 2012, the committee promotes environmentally friendly Ganesh idols. The idol took 15 days to construct and four days to decorate, with an estimated cost of around Rs. 80,000. Each day, between 10,000 and 15,000 devotees visit the idol.
Ramchander, one of the organisers of the Sri Siddhi Vigneshwara Utsav Committee, said, "Since 2012, we have been installing clay Ganesh idols decorated with various materials such as grass, turmeric, bottle lids, and others. People from across Telangana come here to visit the idol.
"This year, we have decorated it with foam flowers. We aim to spread the message for everyone to plant a flowering plant in every household. It took 15 days to build the idol and over four days to decorate it with flowers."
Another organiser, Raja, added, "This is a 14.5-foot Ganesh idol decorated with foam flowers. The entire project cost around Rs. 80,000. Each day, around 10,000 to 15,000 people visit, and we distribute over 150 kg of Prasad to devotees daily."
A devotee, Amulya, said, "I have come here for the darshan of Lord Ganesh. This Ganesh idol is very unique and environmentally friendly. Every year, the organisers do something special."