In a decisive move to safeguard local ecosystems, Mysuru district officials have outlawed Ganesha idols crafted from Plaster of Paris (PoP) or coated with chemical paints containing heavy metals. The ban, announced on September 1, 2026, aims to reduce pollution during the popular Gowri-Ganesha festival.

Key facts

  • Manufacture, sale, transport, and immersion of PoP or chemically painted idols prohibited
  • Criminal cases under Section 279 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for violations
  • Border check-posts to block incoming PoP idols from other states
  • Only clay idols with natural colors permitted

Strict Enforcement Measures

Additional Commissioner R. Aishwarya, who chaired the meeting outlining these measures, emphasized that trade licenses will be denied to shops dealing in banned idols. Raids led by health officers and zonal commissioners, alongside police, will target unauthorized manufacturing units, seize contraband idols, and levy fines.

Eco-Friendly Immersion Protocols

Idols from households must be immersed at home, while public idols should only go into mobile tanks or artificial ponds provided by the Mysuru City Corporation. Before immersion, worshippers are required to separate wet waste—flowers, fruits, and banana stems—for disposal by civic waste vehicles. Natural water bodies like rivers, lakes, and wells are off-limits for immersions.

“People should instead opt for clay idols made using natural colours and cooperate with the district administration,” urged Additional Commissioner Aishwarya.

Additional Restrictions

The administration also banned single-use plastic, flex banners, and decorative festoons at pandals. Loudspeakers and microphones will be silenced between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to maintain public order. Committees installing public idols must secure permissions from local bodies and police beforehand.