Hyderabad: Nine-year-old Aariv K Rao has come up with a special idea for Ganesh Chaturthi to help increase greenery. He has created seed modaks, which can be offered to Lord Ganesh during the festival. After that, these modaks can be planted to grow into beautiful plants.
These modaks are not meant to be eaten. They are made from Ganga mitti (a type of soil) and coco peat. Once the festival is over, you can plant these small dumplings in pots. Over time, they will grow into orange and yellow marigold plants, adding vibrant colors to your garden.
Aariv, who lives in Jeedimetla village, shared his thoughts with The Hans India. He said, “I wanted to do something that helps nature. I have previously done tree plantation drives with my friends. While traveling with my parents, I saw many places without trees, which made me want to give back to nature during this festival. I decided to make seed modaks using Ganga mitti, which I got from a Bengali artisan in West Bengal. I mixed this soil with coco peat and added marigold seeds, shaping them into modaks. So far, I have made around 350 modaks and plan to distribute them to different Ganesh pandals. I’ve even received orders from several puja organizers.”
Aariv further explained that the main idea behind this initiative is to offer the seed-modak as prasad to Lord Ganesh, and then plant it in a pot. In a few months, a marigold plant will grow from it, serving as a living tribute to Lord Ganesh’s blessings.
