Be ‘environment cautious’ and celebrate festivals

Water is life. Polluting of water resources have negative impacts on environment and biodiversity. Are we putting environment at stake to keep our traditions alive? Of course all cannot be painted with the same brush. Environmentally cautious citizens are finding innovative ways to celebrate festivals without negatively affecting the environment

Festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja have been part of Indian tradition for quite long. The joyous celebration ends with immersing idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga in water bodies. Immersion of idols raise environmental concernsas most of the idols are made of non-biodegradable materials. Every year the festival ends with heaps of garbage on river banks polluting the water as well as the land area nearby thus ground water. Researches indicate that pollution level in water bodies increases significantly after idol immersion.
Idols made of non-biodegradable materials such as Plaster of Paris take years to dissolve thus hampering the water flow and its quality. The use of synthetic colors for decoration contain heavy metals and chemicals which contaminates water and makes it unfit for use even after filtration. It affects the aquatic life leading to an imbalance in the aquatic ecosystem.Such contaminated water can cause serious health hazards to humans too.
A study published in 2014 by the International Letters of Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy informs that the concentration of hazardous metals like Lead, Arsenic, Mercury and Cadmium increases post immersion. On exposure to lead, adults can suffer from cardiovascular effects, increased blood pressure, decreased kidney function, etc. Lead also affects the central and peripheral nervous system. Chronic exposure to Cadmium could lead to anemia, anosmia (loss of sense of smell), cardiovascular diseases, renal problems, osteoporosis and hypertension.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had issued guidelines on idol immersion in 2010. As per the guidelines, idols should be made of natural materials as described in Holy Scriptures and their painting should be discouraged. Use of non-biodegradable chemical dyes should be strictly prohibited. It also mentions that materials such as flowers, clothes and decoration stuff that are used for worship must be removed before the immersion. However, the implementation has been sluggish.

Innovative initiatives
Traditionally idols were carved and cast out of earth. The use of non- biodegradable materials such as Plaster of Paris (POP), thermocol, synthetic colors, plastic and synthetic cloth to make idols increased due to their low prices. On the other hand, limited availability and higher cost make it a tougher choice for people to use eco-friendly idols.
Mumbai is famous for celebrating the Puja in grandeur. Ganesh Chaturthi is the biggest festival in the city. As people are becoming more environment cautious due to increase in pollution, a slew of measures were taken by devotees to prevent water pollution. A report by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) indicated that the immersions at artificial ponds had increased significantly.
A newly formed housing society at Worli in Mumbai decided to keep eight different types of eco-friendly idols. These eight Ganesha idols were made of banana and coconut leaf, Alum Ganesha, Turmeric and Multani mitti idol, Tree idol, Paper Ganesha, Sprouts Ganesha, Shadhu Ganesha, and Cornflakes and Supari Ganpati. All these idols were created considering religious sentiments and environmental perspective. In many cities, artificial ponds were created
for immersion.
In many cities across the country, especially those in West Bengal, Durga Puja brings eagerness, excitement and the season of festivity. The environmental concerns associated with the festival is similar to that of Ganesha Puja.
This year Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) decided to set up a boundary with nylon nets around certain zones along the Hooghly River where immersions of Durga idols took place. The nets prevented the idols and decorations from floating away. The following day, immersed idols and decoration materials were picked up by cranes employed by the KMC.
Besides municipal corporations, many NGOs and clubs have been organizing workshops and awareness programs on making of eco-friendly idols using clay and terracotta. Clay idols could be immersed in any container and that water could be used for gardening. Many alternate methods such as creation of edible Ganesha with chocholate, boondi, flour, maida, coconut or peepal leaves were
also suggested.
An NGO ‘Sprouts Environmental Trust’used fish-food to make idols. Hollow idols of river clay were made and stuffed with fish-friendly food like dried corn, spinach and chickpea powder. On immersion of the idols, the clay settled down and the food particles were dispersed in water. Similarly, in Tamil Nadu, devotees used idols made of unbaked clay, potato flour and
sago waste.
The ‘Big Green Ganesha’ campaign was started in 2008 which received an outstanding response in many cities of India. In this campaign BIG FM collected tonnes of paper products from residential areas, corporate offices, shops and other commercial establishments.
The collected paper was shared with the sculptors across the nation to make eco-friendly idols using papier-mache and clay molding techniques. Clay idols stuffed with seeds are also available for sale. They can be planted rather than immersed, or they can be immersed in water filled pots. The clay will settle down gradually and the seeds
will germinate.
To prevent environmental impacts, Puja committees could arrange celebrations in ways that generate minimum waste. Authorities could keep a check on the unregistered pandals and committees. One of the major concerns in our country is safe drinking water for all. India, being the land of rivers is facing a water crises. Water bodies need to be conserved and appropriate steps must be taken to save our rivers.

Environmental concerns
in Diwali
Diwali, the festival of lights is most loved festival of the country and is celebrated with great enthusiasm. Firecrackers are the most important part of the celebration which sadly causes harmful effects to environment making Diwali a festival of pollution. The bursting of crackers releases harmful gases and toxic materials like Cadmium, Sodium, Mercury to environment. The small particles emitted by firecrackers increase the level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Material (RSPM). This increase causes problems to eyes, nose and throat. Chronic Pulmonary diseases such as Bronchitis and Asthma are caused by high concentration of suspended particles.
Besides air pollution, bursting of crackers also leads to noise pollution. Loud noise of fireworks causes Temporary deafness, permanent Eardrum rupture, trauma and hypertension. The use of loud speakers by many people for celebration contributes to noise pollution. Level of noise often goes beyond 125 dB which is as loud as the take-off of Military jet. For residential area the government limits Noise level at 55 dB in daytime and 45 dB at night. These type of noises are very harmful for new-born babies. Animals like dogs and cats have sensitive sense of hearing and thus suffer due to noise pollution.
On the following day of festival, large amount of dry waste consisting of paper and plastic are found in surroundings leading to soil pollution which adds to the already existing problem of waste management.
This year the Supreme Court in its verdict said that only ‘green fire crackers’ will be sold in nation’s capital.
The Supreme Court also imposed time restrictions on burning crackers during celebrations. The court fixed the time of 8 pm-10 pm for bursting firecrackers on Diwali and said that the time will be changed for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, but the time limit cannot exceed two hours.
India the land of festivals needs to come up with more environmental- friendly alternate methods
of celebration.