Statue bank to ensure eco-friendly immersion
LUCKNOW: Shubh Sanskar Samiti, a city-based NGO known for starting Gomti Aarti and raising environmental issues, has established a ‘statue bank and puja samgri collection centre’ at Kudia Ghat for devotees who come to immerse idols and puja material in the river.
President of Shubh Sanskar Samiti Riddhi Kishore Gaur said, “The devotees can submit their puja material and idols at the counter of the statue bank , where they will be kept safe for disposal .The volunteers of the bank will ensure proper disposal of idols in a pit in an ecofriendly manner, according to rituals, twice a week. However, the collection of idols will continue throughout the week.”
Gaur said, “Every year, the festive season comes with a new challenge for our river environment and eco-system. We know celebrations culminate in the immersion of idols in the river during Ganpati or Durga Puja. Most of the idols are made of plaster of Paris and contain toxic, non-biodegradable chemical colours. As a result, the immersion causes considerable harm to aquatic life and quality of water in the river.”
“With our statue bank, we have tried to reduce the environmental damage, but here awareness about social and environmental issues will play a crucial role in making our effort successful. Many devotees will argue with us but we will persuade them to deposit their idols with us instead of immersing them in the river.”
Gaur said he had been working relentlessly for eco- friendly idol immersion during the festive season, as the water supply of the city was still based on the Gomti and immersion of idols could cause health hazards, apart from polluting the river.
“We will use an artificial immersion tank to immerse the idol but will follow all proper rituals,” he assured.
The Shubh Sanskar Samiti has been advocating biodegradable colours such as turmeric, henna, rice powder, coloured dal and gulaal for rangoli and colouring idols.
These colours were ecofriendly and safe while chemical colours were a threat to the environment , said Gaur.