A Time of Celebration or A Time of Celebration or Impending Environmental DisasterImpending Environmental Disaster

A wide spectrum of culturally very different A wide spectrum of culturally very different rituals and mode of festival celebrations are rituals and mode of festival celebrations are witnessed in India. Ganesh festival is one of witnessed in India. Ganesh festival is one of the main festivals in Maharashtra. This festival the main festivals in Maharashtra. This festival is also celebrated as community festival. is also celebrated as community festival. However, with festival comes environmental However, with festival comes environmental disaster. disaster.

Forgetting TraditionsForgetting Traditions

Traditional clay to make Ganesh idols has Traditional clay to make Ganesh idols has slowly been replaced by Plaster of Paris (POP) slowly been replaced by Plaster of Paris (POP) over the years.over the years.

POP contains chemicals such as gypsum, POP contains chemicals such as gypsum, sulphur, phosphorus, and magnesium that do sulphur, phosphorus, and magnesium that do not biodegrade.not biodegrade.

Traditional natural dye paints replaced by heavy metal Traditional natural dye paints replaced by heavy metal based paints that contain mercury, cadmium, arsenic, based paints that contain mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, and carbon. Hence they are toxic for lead, and carbon. Hence they are toxic for environment. environment.

Changes in Concentration (mg/l) of Changes in Concentration (mg/l) of some chemical pollutants after idol some chemical pollutants after idol

immersion in water bodiesimmersion in water bodieswater bodies[1]

Chemical Pollutants

Mean Concentration In Water Concentration before Immersion of Idols Concentration after Immersion of Idols

Calcium 25.14 43.77 68.4*

Magnesium 7.785 6.590 10.02*

Molybdenum 0.090 0.149 0.534*

Silicon 3.537 2.954 3.826**

Arsenic 0.124 0.121 0.497

Iron 0.212 0.125 0.22**

Lead 0.289 0.351 0.45**

Mercury 0.689 0.553 0.778**

Threshold Limit Value (TLV)[2]: *TLV=0.01; **TLV=0.05

[1] Goel, P.K. and Sharma, K.P., Environmental Guidelines and Standards in India, (Technoscience Publications, Jaipur)[2] TLV: The permissible level of a toxic pollutant to which a healthy person is exposed during an eight hour day without any adverse effect.

Fruits, Fruits, garlands, garlands, decorations decorations replaced by replaced by disposable disposable plastic or plastic or thermocol thermocol alternatives alternatives that do not that do not biodegrade.biodegrade.

The impact on natural environment caused by the use The impact on natural environment caused by the use and immersion of Lord Icons created using Plaster and immersion of Lord Icons created using Plaster of Paris which after immersion in Water Bodies, of Paris which after immersion in Water Bodies, do do not disintegrate which is totally against the basic not disintegrate which is totally against the basic conceptconcept of creation of the Lord Icons using earth of creation of the Lord Icons using earth from nearby one's home and thus the cycle of from nearby one's home and thus the cycle of creation and dissolution in Nature. creation and dissolution in Nature.

Plastic and Plastic and thermocol wastethermocol waste, , including including polythene polythene bagsbags containing containing offerings, is usually offerings, is usually immersed with the immersed with the idols,obstructs the idols,obstructs the flow of streams, flow of streams, leading to flooding leading to flooding during the rains. during the rains.

It also choke the It also choke the aquatic life.aquatic life.

Bamboo sticks, beauty articles float in water or settle Bamboo sticks, beauty articles float in water or settle at the river bottom inhabiting river flow. at the river bottom inhabiting river flow.

The The stagnant waterstagnant water become a breeding ground for become a breeding ground for diseases and is a major health hazard for a locality. diseases and is a major health hazard for a locality.

Eatables, Eatables, food items, food items, etc. etc. contribute contribute oil and oil and grease, grease, organics to organics to water water bodies.bodies.

Flowers, garlands, oily substances increase floating Flowers, garlands, oily substances increase floating suspended matter, organic contamination, oil and suspended matter, organic contamination, oil and grease and various organic and inorganic matter.grease and various organic and inorganic matter.

Firecrackers are traditionally perceived as being the highlight of celebrations. All available crackers contain large amounts of toxic substances & violate the prescribed limit of 125 decibels at a distance of 4 meters from the point of bursting.

Song and dance are an integral part of the Song and dance are an integral part of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. Ear-splitting Ear-splitting decibelsdecibels are not just disturbing, but a major are not just disturbing, but a major health hazard for senior citizens, Children and health hazard for senior citizens, Children and patients in the locality or neighborhood. patients in the locality or neighborhood.

RETURN TO ECO-FESTIVALSRETURN TO ECO-FESTIVALS You can go for a better option of having a Lord Ganesh Murti You can go for a better option of having a Lord Ganesh Murti

made of Stone / Brass / any other metal according to the made of Stone / Brass / any other metal according to the aesthetic value you have and have the same Murti every year aesthetic value you have and have the same Murti every year for the festival.for the festival.

If you do wish to use a Plaster of Paris (POP) Icon, then do not If you do wish to use a Plaster of Paris (POP) Icon, then do not immerse the icon and have it repainted every year before the immerse the icon and have it repainted every year before the festival. Sprinkle water over the idol for symbolic immersion.festival. Sprinkle water over the idol for symbolic immersion.

Get Creative! Use Icons made of Paper pulp (mache) can give Get Creative! Use Icons made of Paper pulp (mache) can give us the same light weight icons which can be much more us the same light weight icons which can be much more attractive than the POP ones. But do think of usage of paper attractive than the POP ones. But do think of usage of paper also. also.

Do not buy idols painted with chemical Do not buy idols painted with chemical colours or those having non-biodegradable colours or those having non-biodegradable material (thermocol, plastic, etc) as material (thermocol, plastic, etc) as decorations.decorations.

Encourage people to immerse Ganesh Icons in Encourage people to immerse Ganesh Icons in Tanks rather than Natural water bodies. Let the Tanks rather than Natural water bodies. Let the other living creatures also be safe and healthy. other living creatures also be safe and healthy.

Say no to Polythene or plastic on this ganesh Say no to Polythene or plastic on this ganesh festival. festival.

Flowers and other biodegradable material used Flowers and other biodegradable material used in worship may be used for mulching by in worship may be used for mulching by spreading them on the top soil around plants or spreading them on the top soil around plants or trees. They can also be composted.trees. They can also be composted.

Do not use loud sounds during processions Do not use loud sounds during processions and prayers.and prayers.

Let us take the initiative and ensure a Let us take the initiative and ensure a less polluted festival seasonless polluted festival season

THANK YOUTHANK YOU