There is a message in a modak this Ganpati festival beginning tomorrow. That message says simply: go green, Mumbai. Girls from the non-profit Amcha Ghar are making modaks from mud with tulsi seeds embedded inside them called tulsi seed modaks. They come 10 to a box. Take the modak and replant it in a pot at home to grow tulsi saplings. In this way, one can achieve multi-pronged aims. First, it means one is helping Amcha Ghar, an outfit that works in the space for providing shelter and education for the underprivileged girl child. Secondly, one is contributing to the mission of greening Mumbai, even if it means in homes and building compounds. Thirdly, it also means “good for your waist, as you are planting these modaks” laughed supporter and Mission Green founder Subhajit Mukherjee who wants the city to have a green Ganpati celebration.

Festive cause

Mukherjee said, “This is one way to propagate green Mumbai and actually take away the intimidation aspect from phrases like ecological balance or environmental awareness, which overwhelms people at times. An initiative like this says caring for the environment can begin in a simple way. Begin at home or in your immediate surroundings. It is the simplest messages that are the most powerful and effective.” Amcha Ghar is a 25-year-old non-profit at Bhayander (Uttan) with a key goal of promoting gender equality through education amongst other aims. It has a shelter home for underprivileged and orphan girls between 6 and 18 years.