An eco-friendly 5’3″ idol of Maa Durga was created by students from Techno India Group Public Schools (TIGPS), Techno Main Salt Lake (TMSL), and Techno India University (TIU) in a unique fusion of tradition, creativity, and sustainability. It was unveiled at the Techno India Main Campus in Salt Lake.

In the setting of one of India’s most important cultural festivals, the idol is a symbol of environmental stewardship because it was painstakingly made from natural, biodegradable materials like jute sheets, strand jute (twisted rope), jute twin rope, and adhesive. Now in its fourth year, this project is an extension of Techno India Group’s continuous dedication to environmentally friendly festivities.

The idol was unveiled by Prof Manoshi Roychowdhury, Co-Chairperson, Techno India Group, Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, Founder, Make Calcutta Relevant Again & Chief Innovation Officer, Techno India Group, and Pauline Laravoire, Founder, The Rebalance Institute.

The mood was filled with a sense of celebration as “Dhaki Samrat” Padma Shri Gokul Chandra Das performed traditional dhaaks. He was joined in playing the happy beats by Mr. Nicolas Notini Wallin, a Swedish international drummer.

The students were immersed in the art of sustainable idol-making for 26 days, with 3-hour sessions each day. Pupils were carefully chosen based on their talent and enthusiasm for art and craft. They were closely supervised by seasoned professors and art instructors who taught them both technical skills and environmentally friendly techniques.

The eco-friendly Durga idols created by Techno India Group using tissue paper and leftover engineering supplies in prior years are being replicated in this year’s project. This year’s jute theme reinforces the Group’s focus on eco-friendly materials, allowing the festival to be celebrated in a way that fosters creativity and cultural pride while lessening its negative effects on the environment. It serves as evidence of how sustainability and innovation may coexist to protect our cultural values and encourage upcoming generations to celebrate festivals in a more environmentally friendly manner. Through videos, dancer Dona Ganguly and music composer Sourendro Soumyojit expressed their gratitude for the students’ hard work at Techno India Group.

Priyanka Dutta