Goa, Aug. 9 -- The Shri Rushirambha Rakhandev Devasthan at Gogol, Margao, has announced a ban on the immersion of Plaster of Paris (POP) Ganesh idols in its temple pond during the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations.

The temple committee said the decision aligns with directives from the Goa government and the Department of Environment & Climate Change, which have prohibited POP idols due to their harmful effects on water bodies and the environment.

For more than 20 years, the temple has hosted over 200 idol immersions annually. This year, however, it is urging devotees to embrace eco-friendly clay idols, which are both safe for the environment and rooted in tradition.

Appealing for public cooperation, the committee stressed the need...