By laying down, on Thursday, that all Ganapati idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP) and less than six feet in height would have to be “necessarily” and “mandatorily” immersed in artificial water bodies across Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court has pushed both the Maharashtra government and millions of devotees to be more mindful of environmental concerns around the upcoming Ganeshotsav, the ten-day public celebration of the elephant-headed God that is a part of the state’s socio-religious tradition and culture. Only PoP idols higher than six feet are now permitted to be immersed in natural water bodies, mainly rivers and sea fronts. The state government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, will now have........

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