Who bears the brunt of Bhopal’s devotion?

Over the years, religious festivals such as Ganesh Utsav and Navratri have transformed from intimate community rituals into large-scale public spectacles across Madhya Pradesh. As ornate jhankis (floats) and pandals line the streets, there has been a surge in the demand for decorative idols, especially those made from Plaster of Paris (PoP). Despite a statewide ban on the use of this material, PoP idols continue to flood Bhopal’s markets—and its lakes.  

Recently, a study by the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) found traces of zinc, chromium, copper, lead, cadmium, and cobalt in Bhopal’s lakes following idol immersion. These metals leach from figures made of PoP and synthetic paints, releasing gypsum, sulphur, and heavy metals into the water. Moreover, while the MPPCB only tested for six metals, paints alone can carry more than 30 toxic elements including carcinogens such as mercury and arsenic, warned environmental expert Subhash C Pandey.  

He further explained that when PoP and chemical paints dissolve in water, they consume oxygen, depleting its levels. At immersion points such as Prempura and Khatalapura, idols take days to disintegrate, steadily releasing toxic metals. The decline in oxygen coupled with the influx of harmful materials suffocate aquatic life. This loss of biodiversity affects not just the ecological balance but also local livelihoods, especially for fishing communities.  

Bhopal’s Upper, Lower, and Shahpura lakes and the Hathaikheda Reservoir are now choked with pollution, sedimentation, and toxic contamination, leaving the water unfit for direct consumption. The Upper Lake in particular is the primary source of Bhopal’s drinking water. 

Meanwhile, Prem Shankar Shukla, public relations officer at the city’s municipal corporation, has claimed that only eco-friendly clay models were displayed in 2025. However, PoP idols of both Ganesh and Durga were found being sold, purchased, and immersed in multiple areas across Bhopal. 

Some artisans in the city and nearby towns still use clay to create idols, often calling in traditional craftsmen from Kolkata who proudly claim that their work is eco-friendly. But these clay idols are coated in distempers, paints, decorative plastics, and synthetic fabrics—all of which include harmful chemicals.  

In smaller towns and rural areas around Bhopal, other artisans admit to using moulds filled with PoP as it’s cheaper and easier to handle. “We don’t know how to make idols with clay. We use the mould to make the figures; what else can we do? Even the customers don’t like clay idols,” an artisan near Huzur tehsil shared.   

Dr Imtiaz Khan, an environmental sociologist from Barkatullah University in Bhopal, noted, “The culture of excess has economic roots too. Artisans and shopkeepers depend heavily on the festive season for income, which makes regulation difficult. Without viable economic alternatives or awareness drives, enforcement remains symbolic.” 

Pragya Sharma is a researcher, subaltern sociologist, and freelance journalist working on gender, marginalisation, and social justice. 

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Know more: Learn how pollution in Srinagar’s Dal Lake is affecting a fish delicacy. 

Do more: Connect with the author at Pragya14november@gmail.com to learn more about and support her work.