I have read about some real dudes. Though they belong to a very small place but their work is worth emulating. Is there any solution that on Vijayadashmi, we can do something else with Durga Idol instead of immersing it in our already polluted rivers? Will we be able to find out a way. I find some good news from Kanpur (U.P.).
Source: Dainik Jaagran (29/09/09)
And some more good news:
Novel idea to check pollution in Ganga.
Kanpur’s city mayor Ravindra Patni and Rajeev Sharma, municipal commissioner identified around five different ghats for Durga Utsav Committees to bury the deity’s idol in the sand instead of water immersion.
"Although, nothing is absolute, but for the sake of saving Ganga, we had to sought for an alternative and no better alternative than this. We are hopeful that the efforts would be fruitful in sensitizing the masses and creating awareness about the eco-friendly moves to be taken even during the festivals," pointed Rakesh Jaiswal, a city based environmentalist welcoming the idea.
I wish if more and more of us can follow this new tradition. They are the real cool dudes on which MSM doesn’t want to waste sound bites.
Hi,Alka-that’s an amazing piece of info-I believe the same should be done for other idol immersions, as well, if our religious leaders accept without creating a communal riot out of it.
Respected Madam,
An amazing new change no doubt. But the fact remains that the chemicals used in the idols even when buried in sand will still find their way to the Ganges, once water in any form – rain, ground water base flow, tidal effect. flood etc seeps into these sand. The toxic pollutants will flow to the ganges and worse may be to the ground water. A more safe solution would have been immersion in a properly sealed pit and then separating the reusable part and the toxic waste. Once done the toxic part may be dumped in some safer place where it would not seep back into the natural system.
Amit, I too was thinking that someone shouldn’t give it a communal color.
Anirvan Choudhury welcome to my blog and thanks for commenting. I was thinking about pollutions arising from burial. Your concerns are legitimate and valid. Butt the plus point is at least a beginning was made. hope people carry forward from here. Why don’t you leave the above comment at the times of India website. It might reach the concerned person. i too will try the same.
Dear Alka
So for what efforts did you made for nurturing your sorrounding.
Anil