The festival has been the subject of a long argument, and the argument is real. Plaster of Paris does not dissolve; the paints used on idols have carried heavy metals; and immersing tens of thousands of them into the sea and the city’s lakes has a measurable effect. The Central Pollution Control Board issued idol immersion guidelines in 2010 and revised them in 2020, pushing towards natural clay and natural colours.
Enforcement has been uneven and repeatedly litigated, with deadlines extended and mandals objecting that large clay idols are not structurally possible. What has changed in practice: artificial immersion ponds are now everywhere and widely used, shadu clay is far more common for household idols, and noise limits around silence zones are enforced more than they were.
The names
Mandals, places and people, with what each one is| Name | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| CPCB idol immersion guidelines2010, revised 2020 | national | Push towards natural clay, natural colours, and immersion in artificial tanks. |
| Artificial immersion ponds2010s | across Mumbai | BMC-built tanks; now the normal route for household idols. |
| Shadu clay | Pen and Mumbai workshops | Natural river clay; dissolves. Heavier and size-limited, which is the mandals’ objection. |
| Plaster of Paris1970s onward | Pen and Mumbai | Light and cheap, allows tall idols, does not dissolve. |
| Noise limits and silence zones | city-wide | Restrictions near hospitals and schools; enforced during processions. |
| Nirmalya collection | the beaches | Separate collection of flowers and offerings so they do not go into the sea. |
| BMC immersion arrangements | the beaches | Cranes, lifeguards, watch towers and controlled entry. |
| Natural colour idols2010s | workshops | Turmeric, geru and other natural pigments instead of heavy-metal paint. |
| Crowd management | Lalbaug and Chowpatty | Queue barricading, one-way lanes and police control through the eleven days. |
Worth knowing
- Artificial ponds are the single biggest practical change and are now widely used.
- Shadu clay is normal for household idols and rare for the very large ones.
- Nirmalya — flowers and offerings — is collected separately at the beaches.
- The rules have been litigated repeatedly and deadlines extended more than once.
- Noise restrictions near hospitals and schools are enforced during processions.
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A note on this page. Festival dates move with the lunar calendar and arrangements change every year. Everything here is a snapshot of Mumbai as of 2026, offered as a starting point rather than a live listing. Check timings, routes and darshan rules before you travel.
Mandal, temple, shop and company names belong to their respective owners. Inclusion is for independent discovery only, not endorsement, ranking or affiliation.
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