Start With the Right Clay Idol, and Know What You Are Actually Buying
Not every idol sold as "eco-friendly" qualifies. The standard to look for is natural clay, shaadu mati (the grey riverbed clay used by Pune's traditional sculptors) or red terracotta clay. Both dissolve cleanly in water. What does not dissolve cleanly: Plaster of Paris (PoP), which is still sold under "eco" labels in some markets, takes weeks to break down and releases sulphur dioxide and calcium sulphate into water bodies. Ask the seller directly whether the idol is PoP-free. If they cannot answer, walk away.
