Canberra's Hindu leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to environmentally friendly worship practices after facing a barrage of online backlash.
After the water level of Lake Tuggeranong was lowered in August for a routine government inspection, four statuettes resembling Hindu idols used for religious practice were found littered at the bottom of the lake, alongside several shopping trolleys, electric scooters and bicycles.
Following a Facebook post made about the Lake Tuggeranong idols on August 18, the Hindu community of Canberra has been confronted by social media comments accusing its members of littering in Canberra's waterways and denouncing immigration.
These comments came even after the ACT branch of the Hindu Council of Australia issued a statement condemning the litter of idols in the lake.
"Our message to devotees is simple," it said. "Please do not immerse or dispose of idols made from non-biodegradable materials in waterways."
The immersion of these idols into bodies of water is part of the celebration of the annual Hindu festival Ganesh Chaturthi, which began yesterday, September 14.
The idols are made to resemble the deity Ganesha, whose birthday is celebrated during Ganesh Chaturthi.
In preparation for this year's celebrations, local Hindu leaders have been insistent upon using environmentally friendly methods for idol immersion.
Several workshops for creating idols from biodegradable clay were held on Sunday at Hindu institutions across Canberra.
Lakhan Sharma, president of the Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre in Florey, noted that the workshops have occurred annually there for at least five years.
"For years, we have decided not to advise our devotees to even immerse the idols in the rivers," Mr Sharma said. "We recommend they take clay idols home, immerse them in a bucket of water, and then use the water in the garden."
Mr Sharma also noted that non-biodegradable idols can negate the purpose of the religious practice.
"Traditional idols are made of clay," he said.
"Dissolving the statue back into water and earth serves as a physical reminder of the natural cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution."
The incumbent chair of the ACT branch of the Hindu Council of Australia, Dr Shanti Reddy, was surprised to see the idols in the lake.
"Only two of the four statues actually resembled Ganesha," he said. "And it's really hard to buy Ganesha idols here in Australia, most people make them from clay."
As well as chairing the ACT Hindu Council, Dr Reddy is a geologist.
"I've studied hydrogeology. We know not to dump clay sediment in the lake, because it loses its water capacity and then you have to do expensive dredging.
"That's why we've always encouraged people to do [idol immersion] at home, in a bucket of water."
An estimated 5000 families in Canberra will participate in the practice of idol immersion for Ganesh Chaturthi 2026.
Despite the fact each family has an idol in the home each year for the religious practice, only two Ganesha idols were found littered in the lake during the inspection.
The Hindu Council's statement also noted that other rubbish was found, including 20 shopping trolleys.
"The goal should be a clean lake with no rubbish, regardless of what form it takes or who has left it there," the statement said.
Dr Reddy brushed off the flood of race-based comments he had seen on social media.
"Obviously the comments online took off in a certain direction. People make the comments they want to make," he said.
"I don't take anything personally. All we can do is show that we're doing the right thing."
With several thousands of clay idols made on Sunday, the Hindu community of Canberra will be celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in the home, garden, and temple, regardless of online commentary.
"There's always a small number of people doing the wrong thing, just like any community," Dr Reddy said.
"Ninety-nine point nine nine per cent of the community is doing it right."
