As the city gears up to welcome Bappa with dhols and devotion, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is calling for a major shift from plastic and thermocol to upcycled decorations made from discarded clothes. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) commissioner Dr.Kailas Shinde on Saturday, 02 August ahead of Ganeshotsav appealed the people from Navi Mumbai to choose eco-friendly festive décor crafted at the city’s unique Textile Recycling Facility in Belapur.
Shinde while interacting with women workers at the facility said, “Ganeshotsav is about renewal and good beginnings. Why not begin with the planet. We are making beautiful products from waste. Let’s use them to honour Ganpati Bappa with sustainability in mind.”
The facility which run with the support of the Textile Ministry and various NGOs has quietly been producing stunning handcrafted items like buntings, torans, table cloths, and decorative hangings from discarded clothes collected across the city. These items are now ready to brighten up Ganpati pandals both in homes and public mandals.
In fact, this year, NMMC wants Bappa to arrive to a greener welcome. The Commissioner has instructed officials to set up stalls and display kiosks across malls, markets, and the NMMC headquarters, where citizens can directly buy these upcycled items.
One of the officer from NMMC’s solid waste department said, “Instead of buying decorations made from plastic or glitter foam, imagine using something handcrafted by local women — created from old clothes that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.”
The idea is not just about décor it’s about connecting citizens emotionally to climate action, through India’s most loved festival.
Several women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) who are part of this initiative say they feel proud seeing their work transform into divine décor.
One of the artisan from the facility with smile said, “We are giving Bappa something made from our hands, our effort and it helps the earth too.”
As idol-making workshops reach their peak and decoration shopping begins, NMMC is hoping more citizens will take the green route.
“This Ganeshotsav, let’s celebrate not just Bappa’s arrival but also our commitment to a cleaner, more conscious Navi Mumbai,” said Dr. Shinde.
