Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)

Mangalore, Sep 1: Big FM 92.7, in a gesture to promote its rare style of carving the idol of Lord Ganesha with papers to stress on the need for being eco-friendly while celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi festival, invited well-known Kannada actor Shubha Poonja to offer puja to the idol prepared out of old papers.

The innovative idol of Ganesha was made of old newspapers collected from households across Mangalore.

Sandalwood actress Shubha visited City Center and offered puja and garlanded the idol on Monday September 1.

The practice of making paper Ganesha is not new to the Big FM team as have been doing this for the six years. "Earlier we worshipped the eco-friendly Ganesha keeping the idol inside the office," said R J Errol. "However this was a nationwide programme taken up by the private radio channel across India."

Errol said that on the instruction of head office of the channel, this year, across the nation, it was decided to exhibit the idols for the public. "To promote the idea and to pass on the message to the public, we called Kannada celebrity Shubha," Errol said.

After offering puja, Shubha told Daijiworld she was proud to be a Mangalorean. She has many cine-offers in hand and shooting for some of them will begin in short span of time, she said.

She further said that an opportunity to garland the Ganesha idol was unique and was happy to be the part of the promotion of eco-friendly Ganapa.