Eco-Scope Bihar
Spirituality with Environmentalism: Eco-friendly Durga Puja by Bangiya Samaj, Suraj Kund
By Prof. Ashok Kumar Ghosh
Durga Puja vacation is over and I am back at home after a week of hectic travel. Wherever I went during Durga Puja, I saw many colourful idols, which indeed looked very attractive. But behind all this glitter, my concern for ecology made me hear the sound of warning bells, an experience I want to share with readers of my column. Now a days, most of the idols are made of Plaster of Paris, which allows excellent finish and distinct shine due to the easy and handy spray paint. It is also fit for mass production. The Plaster of Paris is a rapidly hardening material which is easily cast in moulds.
However, it is scientifically confirmed that the Plaster of Paris idols harm our environment and ecosystem. The products released from this material along with the chemical paints used to colour them are a big environmental hazard. Plaster of Paris idols pollute local water sources, as the idols are brought directly into the river at the end of festivities. When the idols are immersed in the nearby water body, Plaster of Paris does not dissolve easily in water and hence the idol floats on water after immersion. Since the idol is not immersed properly, in a way it amounts to dishonouring the deity. Plaster of Paris idols may take anywhere between several months to years to fully dissolve and it is non-biodegradable.
In addition, when chemical paints are used to decorate the idols, these paints contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead, which seep into the water as the idol dissolves. The heavy metals are known to be persistent in the aquatic environment, and gradually accumulate and magnify through the process known as bioaccumulation and bio-magnification, while they move up in the food chain. Thus, lead and mercury may magnify in their concentrations at different trophic levels, including in fishes and birds inhabiting the lake, which finally reach the humans through food. Our polluted water bodies get more polluted in the name of religion. Thousands of these idols are immersed in different water bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers and canals in and around different towns throughout India. The chemicals present in idols dissolve slowly leading to significant deterioration in the water quality of these water bodies.
The traditional Durga Puja was never meant to pollute the water bodies, as almost everything related to this Puja, starting from the Idols to decorative structure and Puja offerings were natural plant products and were biodegradable. This year I spent my Puja Vacation at Charmwood Village, Surajkund, (Near Haryana /Delhi Border). The Bangiya Samaj of Surajkund, set forth an example of following a tradition from rural Bengal, which is eco-friendly and doesn’t harm the environment. The Bengalis of this area celebrate Durga Puja every year, selecting some special theme.
This year’s theme was Green Eco-friendly Puja. Special artists and sculptors were called this year from Kolkata, situated far away, who spent many weeks working in this Pandal, and created very beautiful idols of Goddess Durga and other deities with only bio-degradable material like mud, chaff, jute, bamboos, coconut fibre etc. The setting for this year’s Puja was of a small tribal village of Purulia, West Bengal. The barriers of the Pandal were made of Bamboos, covered with cotton cloth dipped in mud. Coconut fibres were used for tying up the superstructure. The floor was purified with smearing of cow dung mixed with water. The ceiling constituted of two sets of Tokaries/Daliyas made of plant product, which was innovative, beautiful and eco-friendly. There was no use of plastic in the complete Puja Pandal. Even the colours they use were water colours, so that the water body where the idol was finally immersed did not have to suffer any pollution.
The evening was also made enchanting by the rhythmic sound of Dhak-Dhol (Drums) in true Bengali tradition. Dhuparji dance with Dhak-Dhol beats was a great experience for me, which I enjoyed after a long time. Very aptly, The Times of India, Delhi selected this Pandal as the best Pandal in “Green Pandal category”. Bangya Samaj of Surajkund has shown us that even in modern times religious rituals can be performed without harming the ecology and environment of our mother earth. Let us try to replicate this model puja for the future.
Archives
—————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Prof. Ashok Kumar Ghosh is Professor-in-Charge in the department of Environment and Water Management, A.N.College [Magadh University], Patna, India. He writes a column on environment and water resources in Bihar, exclusively for BiharDays every Monday.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————–