Sambalpur, Aug 26: This year, Lord Ganesha, revered as Vighna Vinashak, who will not only bless devotees but also inspire the younger generation towards health consciousness.
Along with spreading the importance of nutritious food for all, a unique 28-foot Ganesh idol made entirely of apples is being prepared for the Ganesh Puja celebrations organised by Natraj Club at Khetrajpur, Sambalpur.
The idol, weighing nearly 150 kilograms in apples, has been crafted with fruits specially brought from Himachal Pradesh. To protect the structure from rain and heat, the organisers have set up a tarpaulin canopy and arranged coolers to ensure the apples remain fresh throughout the celebration.
The club, which has been conducting awareness-themed Ganesh Puja since 1975, has chosen “Health Awareness and Nutrition for All” as this year’s theme. Speaking about the preparations, Gopal Krishna Pansari, a senior member of Natraj Club, said,
"For the last 50 years, we have been creating unique idols out of coconuts, bananas, rudraksha, laddoos, and more. Every year, our idols are 25 to 30 feet tall, and this year we chose apples to spread the message that ‘One apple a day keeps the doctor away.’
The idol is designed and constructed solely by our idols are 25 to 30 feet tall, and this year we chose apples to spread the message that ‘One apple a day keeps the doctor away.’
The idol is designed and constructed solely by our members, without professional sculptors. Each of us contributes 4–5 hours daily, and on weekends we work overnight. It takes us nearly two and a half months of collective effort, but our devotion and unity keep us going."
He further added that all the apples used in the idol will be distributed among devotees after the rituals. “Despite progress, many people in our society still lack awareness about nutrition and health. Through this apple idol, we want to remind everyone of the importance of a healthy diet,” Pansari said.
Natraj Club’s Ganesh Puja draws lakhs of devotees every year, making it one of Sambalpur’s most anticipated celebrations.
This time, alongside devotion, the grandeur will also carry a strong social message of good health and nutrition.
