The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has held that only those Lord Vinayaka idols that were certified as eco-friendly should be permitted for immersion in natural waterbodies. Insofar as uncertified idols were concerned, the organisers should take steps to immerse them in artificial waterbodies.
The court said devotion to God could not be allowed to result in disturbance to man or destruction of nature. True worship lay in harmony among communities through peace and order, and harmony with creation through protection of environment.
