The fight against Climate Change, prioritizing Sustainable Development Practices and the prospects of a Government ban on Single-Use Plastic – All these factors contributed to make this year’s Durga Puja celebration eco-friendly across the country. In the metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and even in smaller cities like Bhubaneswar and Ranchi, people have adopted green behaviour during the celebrations. We cannot help but be happy and inspired.
While Kolkata’s Pujo pandals are all the rage during this time of the year for their magnificence, eco-friendliness adds the extra charm this year. The Santoshpur Lake Pally committee, Kolkata has designed the pandal to raise awareness about plastic pollution and water conservation through its artwork. One entire section of the pandal is made with plastic bottles and polythene bags. Such initiatives have been taken after the state government and green activists raised concerns about the environmental degradation that accompanies the Pujo celebrations.
In Delhi, the pandal at Indraprastha Extension has caught the media attention, with idols made using waste items like soda cans, discarded automobile parts, dysfunctional bulbs, and glass bottles. A report on SwachhBharat.Ndtv.com read that approximately 220 kgs of scrap had been collected for this purpose. In the CR park area of Delhi, popularly called ‘Delhi’s Mini Kolkata’, many pandal-organizing committees like the Cooperative Ground Durga Puja Samiti, which is celebrating its 44th year of the Durga Puja, has decided to use artificial ponds for immersion instead of the former practice of immersion in the Yamuna river.
One of Delhi’s oldest pandals, dating back to 1910 – the Kashmere Gate, has made a provision for an artificial pond at Burari, 10 km away from the pandal. The bhog or food offering at this pandal is also being served in bowls made of dried leaves instead of thermocol plates or plastic cups.
In Mumbai, popular Pandal organizers like the North Bombay Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samiti-Juhu adopted an eco-friendly attitude. The pandal was made of eco-friendly materials like bamboo. In smaller cities like Bhubaneswar too, the awareness and action during the Puja vis-à-vis the environment is praiseworthy. The Nayapalli Durga puja committee in Bhubhaneswar has come up with an idea of using inedible wild fruits from forests for designing the pandal.
From making the idols to decorating the pandals and from serving the bhog or prasad to immersing the idol, the green behaviour adopted by people across the country in every aspect of the grand festival is a great step towards environment conservation and reduction in plastic consumption.
The turtles are happier, and so are we!
Text & Image Sources : M.timesofindia.com, Indiatoday.in, SwachhIndia.Ndtv.com
About the Author :
A Literature student, Shalini is an alumna of Miranda House, Delhi University. In her free time, she likes to overthink, sitting at a nice spot. It might take you a while to bring her back from the maze of thoughts. An ardent reader, she pens down meaningful sentences occasionally. Shalini always tries to do her bit in making turtles happier and the Earth greener.