Festivals in India Go Green

Reduction in Pollution Make Celebrations Kinder on the Planet

Oct 26, 2009 Rukhsana Badar

Most Indian festivals are eco-disasters with loud music, fire crackers, burning of effigies and immersion of idols. Eco-consciousness is growing.

In India the celebrations are always on. There are more than 50 major festivals marked on the calendar across the country. Most are celebrated with a bang, literally since fire crackers are a major part of the merriment.

Festivals usually revolve around the worship of one of the many Hindu Gods such as during Ganesh Utsav when large idols of Lord Ganesha are erected. At the end of the festival, these idols are immersed in rivers or lakes.

Holi is an important event in North India. On this day people spray each other with colored water and burn large effigies representing their problems.

How Indian Festivals can Harm the Environment

Fire crackers cause noise pollution when they burst and also emit a large amount of smoke. People have lost their hearing due to loud bangs near the ear. Once they burst, crackers leave behind bits of paper and residual powder that litter the area.
Synthetic colors are usually used during Holi since they offer a wider range of shades. But these dyes are toxic causing irritation on skin and in the eyes sometimes leading to temporary blindness and skin discoloration.
Idols immersed into tanks and rivers or lakes cause water pollution. Plaster of Paris idols of the Lord Ganesha are sometimes washed ashore, still intact even after 15 days. The paints used on these idols add poisons to the water.
The burning of effigies emits toxic smoke and pollutes the surrounding area with pieces of paper and other residual material.

Changes Made In the Celebration to Reduce Pollution

Children around the country are raising their voices against fire crackers, opting to celebrate as their ancestors did, by simply lighting diyas. Many of the loud varieties have been banned.
Plastic, thermocol and aluminum foil used to make Diwali lanterns are being replaced by the more eco-friendly recycled paper, jutes and match sticks.
Ganesh idols are now sculpted in unbaked clay, papier mache or better still, in cow dung. These materials are bio-degradable and prevent the clogging of lakes and rivers. Many people are opting for smaller idols and some have even chosen to retain the statue, making a symbolic immersion in a bucket of water.
Natural dyes such as turmeric, beetroot and henna are replacing toxic synthetic dyes.
Instead of using thermocol for decorations many are now using paper, cardboard or natural leaves and flowers.
Waste material is used as an alternative to the wood to light bonfires. In many areas a single bonfire is lit per community instead of the multiple smaller fires.

People across India are choosing to celebrate sans the noise and scale, in a more traditional way so as to reduce their eco-footprint.

The copyright of the article Festivals in India Go Green in Green/Simple Living is owned by Rukhsana Badar. Permission to republish Festivals in India Go Green in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Synthetic colors