Maharashtra has extended its existing rules governing Plaster of Paris Ganesh idols and their immersion until the Bombay High Court delivers its decision. Devotees and Ganesh mandals must follow identification, artificial immersion and post-immersion requirements during Ganeshotsav 2026.
Maharashtra extends POP Ganesh idol rules
The Maharashtra government has extended the existing POP Ganesh idol rules for the 2026 festival season, keeping the guidelines notified in August 2025 in force until the Bombay High Court gives its final decision on the issue. The Environment and Climate Change Department issued the latest circular on Tuesday, according to a report published on September 3.
The decision comes amid continuing legal proceedings concerning the use and immersion of Plaster of Paris idols. The rules were initially applicable to festivals held up to March 31, 2026, but their continuation became necessary because of interim directions issued during the court proceedings.
For devotees, the most visible requirement is the circular red mark on POP idols. Sculptors and sellers must place a clearly visible red oil-paint mark on the back of every POP idol. This is intended to make such idols easier to identify and ensure that the applicable immersion rules can be followed.
Red mark mandatory on every POP Ganesh idol
Under the extended guidelines, every Ganesh idol made from Plaster of Paris must carry a clearly visible circular red mark painted with oil paint on its back. The marking is intended to help devotees, sellers and civic authorities distinguish POP idols from other types of idols.
This requirement is particularly relevant at markets where large numbers of idols are sold during Ganeshotsav. Buyers looking for an eco-friendly idol should therefore ask the seller about the material used before making a purchase.
The government has also directed idol sellers to maintain a register recording sales of POP idols. Compliance with the requirements is linked to licences issued by local authorities. Sellers have additionally been instructed to provide buyers with an information pamphlet explaining the applicable immersion rules.
The red marking does not mean that every idol carrying the mark can be immersed wherever the devotee chooses. Instead, it serves as an identification mechanism so the specific POP immersion requirements can be applied.
POP idol immersion rules for idols below six feet
One of the most important provisions concerns the height of the idol.
Under the extended Maharashtra guidelines, POP idols installed at homes and POP idols below six feet in height are to be immersed in artificial ponds created by local authorities. They are not intended for immersion in natural water bodies under this provision.
This means devotees bringing a POP Ganesh idol home should check the designated artificial immersion facility arranged by their municipal authority before the visarjan day.
The purpose of providing artificial ponds is to prevent POP material from entering natural water bodies. POP does not dissolve in water in the same way as traditional clay, which is why authorities have continued to regulate its immersion.
The arrangement also places responsibility on civic bodies to provide adequate facilities. Local authorities have been directed to establish artificial immersion ponds and provide directional signage so devotees can locate designated visarjan points.
For Nagpur residents, this is particularly significant because the Nagpur Municipal Corporation is expected to establish more than 400 artificial tanks for Ganesh immersion this year.
What happens to POP idols above six feet?
The rules provide a different provision for large POP idols installed by public Ganesh mandals.
For POP idols taller than six feet, immersion in natural water bodies may be permitted only when no alternative artificial immersion facility is available. In such cases, civic authorities must ensure that the POP material is recovered from the water body by the following day.
This does not mean that large POP idols have unrestricted permission for immersion in lakes, rivers or other natural water bodies. The availability of an alternative facility remains an important consideration.
The guidelines also encourage mandals with large idols to consider making a smaller replica specifically for immersion while preserving the main idol for reinstallation in subsequent years. This provision is aimed at reducing the quantity of POP material entering water bodies while allowing mandals to retain their larger installations.
Ganesh mandals planning large idols should therefore coordinate with their local civic authority well before the immersion procession.
Artificial immersion ponds have their own rules
The regulations do not stop once a POP idol enters an artificial tank. The water and sediment generated during the immersion process also have to be handled according to the prescribed system.
According to the extended guidelines, water from POP immersion ponds is to be treated within seven days. Sediment is required to be stored for 15 days before recycling or reprocessing.
This is intended to ensure that material collected during the immersion process is not simply discharged into the environment.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and local authorities have also been directed to conduct awareness campaigns concerning eco-friendly celebrations and POP immersion requirements.
For devotees, the practical message is straightforward: use the designated immersion facility and follow instructions issued by municipal officials rather than choosing an unauthorised location.
Why the Bombay High Court decision matters
The Maharashtra government’s latest move does not represent a final resolution of the wider POP idol dispute. The existing rules have been extended while the Bombay High Court proceedings continue.
The court had earlier reserved its decision in the matter concerning immersion of POP idols in natural water bodies, while interim directions continued to govern the issue. A September 1 report by Loksatta also noted that the final decision on the future of POP idols remained pending.
That is why devotees may encounter references to both government guidelines and court orders while checking immersion arrangements.
For Ganeshotsav 2026, the immediate position is that the existing government guidelines remain applicable until the court’s decision changes the situation. Devotees should therefore follow the rules currently communicated by their municipal authority and avoid relying on older information from previous festival seasons.
What devotees should check before buying an idol
The simplest way to avoid confusion is to decide on the idol material before purchase. If a family wants to use a clay or other permitted eco-friendly idol, it should confirm the material with the seller rather than assuming that an idol is made from clay because of its appearance.
If purchasing a POP idol, consumers should look for the required circular red mark on the back and ask the seller for the information pamphlet concerning immersion. Sellers are required to maintain records of POP idol sales and provide buyers with information about the applicable rules.
Devotees should also check their local body’s designated artificial immersion facilities and timings before visarjan day. This can prevent last-minute confusion, especially in cities where thousands of households and mandals participate in immersion.
The wider aim of the regulations is to reduce the environmental impact associated with POP immersion while allowing Ganeshotsav celebrations to continue under defined conditions.
Key Takeaways
- Maharashtra has extended the existing POP Ganesh idol rules until the Bombay High Court delivers its decision.
- Every POP idol must carry a clearly visible circular red oil-paint mark on its back.
- POP idols below six feet, including household idols, must be immersed in artificial ponds under the current guidelines.
- Large POP idols above six feet may be immersed in natural water bodies only when no alternative facility is available, with recovery of POP material required by the following day.
FAQs
1. Is the red mark compulsory on POP Ganesh idols in Maharashtra?
Yes. Under the extended guidelines, sculptors and sellers are required to put a clearly visible circular red mark in oil paint on the back of every POP idol.
2. Can a POP Ganesh idol below six feet be immersed in a lake?
Under the current Maharashtra guidelines, household POP idols and POP idols below six feet are to be immersed in artificial ponds created by local authorities. Devotees should use the designated facility rather than a natural water body.
3. What are the rules for POP idols above six feet?
For POP idols above six feet installed by mandals, immersion in a natural water body can be permitted only when no alternative facility is available. In such cases, authorities must ensure that the POP material is recovered by the following day.
4. Has Maharashtra permanently banned POP Ganesh idols?
The current development should not be described as a final statewide ban. The existing restrictions have been extended while the Bombay High Court considers the matter. The final legal position remains subject to the court’s decision.