Ganesh Chaturthi is a widely celebrated Hindu festival in India in honor of god Ganapati or Ganesha. It was introduced by Mr. Bhausaheb Laxman Javale in 1892 in Pune to unite people. It falls in Bhadrapada as per Hindu calendar and anywhere between months of August to September as per Gregorian calendar. In this Article we are going to see Effects of Ganapati Festival on Environment and the most appropriate Eco Sensitive solutions for traditional ceremonies.
On Ganesh Chaturthi, many worshipers or devotees bring Ganapati idol (small clay statues) for ten days. In those ten days people visit relatives, nearer public Ganesh Idols. Also devotees listen to spiritual songs and offer flowers, Modak, Durva etc. Each day ends with singing Aarti in honor of Ganapati, other gods and saints. Though Ganesh festival is celebrated in India, the maximum enthusiasm is seen in Maharashtra State.
Anant Chaturdashi is the last day of Ganesh Festival and is a big day of great joyousness for devotees.
While celebrating Ganesh Festival people generally ignore environmental impact of pollution on Air, Water, Noise, solid Waste, etc caused by various activities performed in puja.
During this festival, fireworks and crackers are used in abundance by the devotees for expressing their happiness. This leads to Air pollution, as harmful gases and toxic substances like Barium, Cadmium, Sodium, Mercury, Nitrate and Nitrite are released into atmosphere. Also, respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) level goes high in this season as small particles are released into the environment by these firecrackers.
Increase in consumerism during the festival increases traffic congestion which in turn increases air pollutants, which are released into the atmosphere by vehicles. The celebration of Ganapati festivals lead to increase in the level of harmful gases in atmosphere like Sulphur dioxides (SO2), Carbon Monoxides (CO), etc.
In recent years, we have seen increased awareness about water pollution caused by visarjan i.e. immersion of Ganesh Idols in lakes, rivers and Sea which are made out of Plaster of Paris (PoP) i.e. calcium sulphate hemi –hydrate. It takes several months to totally dissolve Ganesh Idols made up of PoP into water.
Also, colors used in decoration of idols contains harmful chemicals containing mercury, lead which leaks into water as idol dissolves. It increases acid content, Total Dissolved solids (TDS) and Heavy metals in water. It kills aquatic plants and marine life, damaging ecosystem under water.
Along with Ganesh idols people dump other accessories like thermocol, plastics, etc. as well adding to the level of water pollution.
Devotees celebrate the prestigious festival with all possible means of loud music like listening to bhajjans, kirtans and songs using massive speakers. During Anant Chaturdashi, which is the final day of the auspicious Ganesh festival, we witness heavy traffic on the roads, which leads to an increase in Air (particles from vehicles) and Noise (excessive honking) pollution.
All the above points add up and increase Noise pollution way beyond the permissible level of 55 bB (day) and 45 dB (night) stated by the pollution control board. Senior citizens and children are directly affected by these as in certain cases the noise level can even reach 110 dB
Learn more about Noise level Measurement
Along with Idols several other accessories are used in worship of Ganapati such as, flowers, fruits, coconuts, incents, camphor, cloth, plastic, thermocol. Etc. It is collectively called as Nirmalya.
Every year government spends crores of rupees to clean and dig out tons of garbage from natural water sources such as rivers, lakes etc.
These are all ill effects of Ganapati festival and is essential for to know everyone, so that it becomes easier to take initiatives to reduce bad effects of Ganesh Chaturthi on environment.
In the festival people are blindfolded themselves in the name of god and are totally ignoring responsibility of environment while accomplishing spiritual motives. It is possible only after they understand that they cannot make god (here Ganapati) by damaging environment. Rituals of worships are not created by gods but by humans. We can make changes in them to reduce impact on environment. It is not correct to accept rituals which in turn causes harm to the nature.
Besides there are numerous ways in which rituals can be performed without damaging environment. Some of them are mentioned below:
Many measure have been taken by government to bring awareness amongst people to minimize impacts of festivals. Several NGO, Organizations are working hard to make people realize harmful effects of Ganapati festival.
It is important to celebrate Ganapati festival, but we cannot make Ganapati happy if we destroy his gift i.e. nature.
Let’s make Ganapati and Mother Earth happy by celebrating eco-friendly Ganesh Festival but most importantly not compromising on enthusiasm.
!!Ganapati Bappa Morya!!
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Also read about Effects of fireworks in Diwali festival.
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