Mumbai, June 9 (UNI) Ahead of upcoming 10-day-long Ganeshotsav festivity in Maharashtra, the Bombay High Court on Monday lifted the ban on the Lord Ganesh idols made of plaster of paris (PoP), creating an atmosphere of jubilation among sculptors and public Ganeshotsav mandals alike.

The High Court has lifted the ban on the manufacture and sale of PoP Ganesh idols, however, it comes with a rider that these idols should be immersed only in artificial lakes and not in natural water sources.

A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne clearly said that it will not allow immersion of any PoP idols in natural water bodies.

The court has directed the state government to appoint a committee within three weeks and submit a detailed and in-depth report to the court on the measures to be taken for immersion of PoP idols.

With this decision, there is no obstacle for sculptors to make small and big PoP idols of Lord Ganesh for both household and public Ganeshotsav mandals.

UNI SP SS