Nagercoil, August 24, 2013: The district administration has asked people to celebrate the Vinayagar Chathurthi festival in a traditional manner without polluting the environment.

Worshipping Vinayagar idols made of clay during Vinayagar Chathurthi and immersing them in water bodies is a tradition. But in recent times, idols coated with chemical paints are being immersed in water bodies thus causing pollution.

Therefore, the district administration has asked people to use Vinayagar idols made of clay. While immersing the idols in sea, the idols should be taken to a minimum 500 meters into the sea and should be immersed at places that are identified by the district administration.

The Vinyagar idols could be immersed at Kanyakumari, Chothavilai, Chinnavilai, Changuthurai, Vettumadai, Midalam and Thengapattanam shores and in Pallikonam dam, Thirparappu water falls and Thamirabarani river at Kuzhithurai in the district, stated an official release.

Source: The Hindu, August 24, 2013