REBEARTH 2025 An event to celebrate the circularity of soil : Clay recycling innovations in Ganesh sculpture and architecture

The PUNARAVARTAN campaign aims to set up circular systems of collection and reuse of natural clay which is used to make Ganesh idols in the Ganesh Chaturthi festival. It was initiated by the eCoexist Foundation in 2020 and over the past five years has been launched in 15 cities across Maharashtra collaboratively with over 30 organisations.

In 2024, it collected 57000 kg of clay in the cities of Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Thane.

On 22nd April 2025, Earth Day, the campaign hosted an event called

REBEARTH: Celebrating the circularity of soil

In this event we aimed to feature some of the amazing innovations and experiments happening with the reuse and recycling of soil, both by artisans and architects. The first REBEARTH event was held online on 22nd April 2024.

For 2025 we will highlighted the work of :

Traditional murtikars from Sindhudurg, Pen and Pune who will display clay idols from 1 ft tall to 6 feet tall.
Architects who have been experimenting with the reuse of clay for green construction and landscaping – such as pond liners, adobe earth walls, wall plaster, furnaces etc
Earth based paints innovated by murtikar Suresh Pathak of Nagpur
Talks by scientists such as geologists on the impacts of mining and water experts on the impacts of immersion.

Clay recycling innovations in architecture Presentations by architects

Over the past year architects who had received the clay sludge after the Ganesh festival have been working on several experimental applications of the clay. This is work in progress and we are learning a lot through this process of innovation. A session was hosted to showcase this work – where architects presented in person and via zoom.

Anujna Dnyaneshwar, Bhor

Anushree Chitnis, Bhor

Anushree Tendolkar, Thane

Dhruvang Hingmire, Pune

Priyanka Gunjikar, Pune

Satyendra Bhagat, Tamhini

Also part of the Punavartan project are

Prof Yogananda, Bangalore

Suyash Khanolkar, Belgaum

Shashank Nimkar, Ahmedabad

Exhibition of Hand sculpted Ganesh idols Presentations by artisans

Sr . No	Name	Contact	Village
1	Ajay Gajanan Parab	8007819525	Kankavali
2	Dattatray Ashok Mathakar	9011110745	Wayangani , Vaigurle
3	Dattaram Atmaram Sawant	8275380459	Sawantwadi
4	Suhas Suresh Surve	7588330918	Kudal
5	Eknath Balkrushn Rane	9820039328	Malvan
6	Narayan Yashwant Sawant	9422078539	Sawantwadi
7	Deepak Bapu Joshi	9518719744 / 9423304942	Malgaon
8	Vishnu Natekar	9403072077	Zolambe
9	Siddhesh Teli	9768840659	Vengurla , Parule
10	Kailas Kumbhar	7219030321	Budh – Khatav , Satara
11	Samadhan Sampat Kumbhar	8459769626	Budh – Khatav , Satara
12	Rajaram Kumbhar	91587 35185	Uttur – Aajara ,Kolhapur
13	Omkar Salunkhe	8975572195	Mundhawa pune
14	Deepak Kumbhar	9623325057	Dighi , PCMC
15	B J Kumbhar	9730508684	PCMC
16	Swapnil Kumbhar	9119432929	Mundhawa pune
17	Surekha Agarkar	9765299601	Pune

Trainings in earth based paints Mineral paints and vegetable pigments

Policy Advisory meeting Chaired by Mahesh Pohnerkar, SPARC

To put together a consolidated note as a policy advisory for the government the Punaravartan core team took this opportunity to hold a multi stakeholder meeting at the office of PARC – Policy Advisory and Research Center , Pune where the ban on Plaster of Paris was discussed.

The following experts were in attendance:

Name	Area of expertise
Dr Mahesh Pohnerkar	Policy design
Dr Rajesh Manerikar	Waste management systems
Manisha Sheth	Founder, Punaravartan
Rohit Joshi	Activitist and PIL for Thane
Suresh Pathak	Murtikar Sanghatana head
Narayan Sawant	Murtikar Sanghatana head
Shama Deo	Punaravartan Core team member
Maitreya Ghorpade	Environmental Lawyer, Punaravartan Core team member
Dr Shubhangi Umbarkar	Scientist on Expert Committee for POP, NCL, Pune

The group discussed the history of the ban on POP, the developing movements for and against the ban and the various concerns that have emerged from diverse stakeholders in the matter. The following points were agreed upon by the gathering:

A complete and total ban on the immersion into natural water bodies of any made made religious item is absolutely essential and has to be enforced by the government in whatever way they can.
To regulate the immersion of Plaster of Paris idols in natural water bodies there has to be a ban on production until such time that there is an appropriate collection and recycling system set up by the government. When such a system is fully operational the government may revisit the ban on production and reconsider it if need be.
The implementation of these bans must begin from the Urban Local bodies and gradually move to rural areas. The ‘Karnataka Model’ of enforcement of the ban on use of PoP Idols and Idol Immersion in natural water bodies was observed to be exemplary, providing valuable lessons to be emulated by the state of Maharashtra.
‘At-source segregation’ of various materials used for idols at Public Immersion spots is essential in ensuring 100% recycling of resources.
The government should subsidise and promote other natural and biodegradable alternatives to POP. All materials introduced to the festival must strictly follow a closed loop of production, use and recycling / biodegradation.
To regulate the production and sale of idols, artisans and vendors must be officially registered with the government. A penalty must be placed on artisans producing and vendors selling POP inspite of ban. Adequate and accurate documentation of the industry must be done by government every year.
IEC Programs must necessarily be designed to highlight traditional sustainable methods of celebration of Ganeshotsav. Collaborations with Ganesh Mandals/Akhadas is crucial in further permeating the core message of Punaravartan, i.e., sustainable celebrations of a zero-waste festival.