Natural dyes are the colors derived from plant extract which is flowers, leaves, roots, barks. The harmful health hazards have banned or else limited the use of synthetics dyes. Some synthetic dyes like azo dyes have been banned because it is carcinogenic besides this synthetic dye are the cause of pollutants. The use of non-allergic, nontoxic and eco – friendly and natural dyes is gaining importance due to increased environmental awareness in order to avoid hazard of synthetic dyes.
Advantages of Natural Dyes
- Minimal Environmental Impact – Because they come from natural sources, natural dyes are not harmful to the environment, which makes it so appealing for consumers. Natural dyes are biodegradable and disposing them doesn’t cause pollution.
- Renewable – Natural dyes are obtained from renewable sources that can be harnessed without imposing harm to the environment.
- Color pay-off – If you’re going for a soft hue or soothing shade, natural dyes can help you achieve that look.
- Safe – Some natural dyes will not cause harm or health problems when ingested.
Regular idols are made of Plaster of Paris (gypsum, Sulphur, phosphorous and magnesium) and painted with harmful synthetic dyes (contains mercury, cadmium, lead and carbon) which is to be replaced with natural dyes use flowers, leaves, seeds, bark, wood and roots of plants.
In Nimajjanam, the synthrtic dyes are also immersed along with ganesha. Presence of sulphur, naphthol, vat dyes, nitrates, acetic acid, soaps, chromium compounds and heavy metals like copper, arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel, and cobalt and certain auxiliary chemicals all collectively make the water in tank bund highly toxic. Excess of this element causes skin disease Polluted water slowly kills the aquatic plants and the marine life in the first place, thereby, disturbing the flow of ecosystem. At some places the same water is pumped to the homes for drinking purposes. Since these idols do not dissolve easily, they get accumulated as waste in the sea. Every year, the government digs out tonnes of garbage from the water bodies to clean the waters. Not only the idols, but the other accessories used during Ganesh Chaturthi are also dumped into the sea, adding to the level of pollution in the water.A measure has been taken by the college of Home Science, Saifabad to minimize the hazardous impact of synthetic dyes by introduction of ecofriendly dyes. Eco-friendly Ganesh idols were also introduced in the markets.
This ecofriendly Ganesha are available in college of Home science,Saifabad PJTSAU Hyderabad.Purchasing this Ganesha we can reduce the burden of synthetic dyes and protect water bodies of Hyderabad.
Sunitha.N and Pretty.R