10 Tips for an eco-friendly Dussehra celebration
Dussehra or Durga Puja is celebrated for nine long days (which is called as Navaratri) and Vijaya Dashami or tenth day is celebrated as the victory of good over evil. Amidst the grand celebration, the giant puja pandals, larger than life goddess statues, decorative products, feasts, etc, it creates piles of garbage.
With the festive season round the corner, celebrate Dussehra with joy and prosperity but with an eco-friendly way.Here are few tips to “celebrate puja in an eco-friendly” way:
Using eco-friendly idols: Traditionally, clay was used to make the idols which was taken over by plaster of Paris (PoP), which is a building material that pollutes the water and does not dissolves easily. Using the eco-friendly clay idols for the Puja is the best step you can take for an eco friendly movement.
Say no to chemical paints: Multiple colours or chemical paints used on the idol pollute the water and the environment. Painting the idols with natural colours (dyes from flowers or other products) is a better option.
Eco-friendly decorating products: Mostly, the puja pandals are decorated with thermocol, plastic products etc which generates large volume of waste. Thermocol and plastic are non-degradable which causes harm to the environment. So limit your decoration to paper products and other natural degradable items including bamboo.
Use of disposable plates and recyclable products: During the puja, the plates and other products used for Prasad distribution and for eating should be degradable in nature. Plastic plates are not environment-friendly. Now, there are many products available in the market which are bio-degradable, you may consider the most natural way, distributing in leaves.
Energy saving lightings: Saving power is the most crucial thing. During Dussehra, people tend to use different colourful lights including halogen lights to decorate the puja pandal which consumes a lot of power. Instead, one should opt for the CFL bulbs or other energy saving electrical products.
Avoid loudspeaker or noisy DJs: Playing loudspeakers in full volume has become a part and parcel of any festive celebration across religions and localities. One should give a thought about the old neighbours and kids in the residential colony and avoid using the loudspeaker.
Avoid use of firecrackers: Firecrackers cause environment pollution. It releases harmful smoke which pollutes the air. Amidst festive madness, people tend to burst firecrackers in a large scale. It is impossible to get away from them, but try to reduce the numbers.
Use of public transport: Traffic congestion during any festive celebration whether it is Durga Puja or Ganesh Chaturthi has become a serious issue. With the number of puja pandals increasing every year, people tend to visit them with their private vehicles which cause unwanted traffic congestion. One should try and use the public transports during the puja.
Recycling: You can collect the flowers and other organic products used in the puja and use it as compost for your garden. Also, you can immerse the idol in a separate water container and use that water for plants rather immersing the idol in the nearby lake or sea.
Do less: Lastly, “Do less” – whether it is decorating the puja pandals, making food items or visiting all puja pandals in the city. It costs money, consumes fuel and affects the environment. Keep your puja celebration simple and environment-friendly by taking care of these small things.
