Vashi: The Yuva Ganesh Utsav Mandal is celebrating its 42nd year of Ganesh Chaturthi in Sector 8, Vashi, from 7th to 17th September, featuring a 13-foot-tall eco-friendly Ganesh idol—the tallest in the region. Continuing its legacy of spreading social messages, the Mandal’s 10-day festival highlights relevant issues such as women's safety, ending rape and human trafficking, and promoting child education.

To ensure a safe and environmentally conscious celebration, the Mandal has erected a spacious pandal and decorated it using eco-friendly materials. The idol, crafted by artisans from Bengal, follows traditional eco-friendly methods using bamboo, hay, husk, and alluvial soil from the Ganges basin. A photo series inside the pandal showcases the process of creating the idol using this unique clay.

In keeping with its commitment to social responsibility, the Mandal will organize a health check-up and blood donation camp on Sunday, 15th September.

“We’ve been using eco-friendly idols since 2010, long before the concept gained widespread promotion from government agencies. Today, it’s a mandate by civic authorities to encourage environmental safety,” said committee member Sri Jayesh Patil.

The 10-day celebration also promises a variety of entertainment events, including a ‘Satyanarayan Mahapuja’, fancy dress competitions, Garba, housie, drawing contests for children, sports, musical chairs, and solo and group dance performances. Devotees are participating in mass ‘aarti’ held at 9 AM and 8 PM daily.