Delhi Pollution Control Committee on Friday issued recommendations for Ganesh Utsav, Durga Puja, and other upcoming festivals. The Committee directed the idol makers and dealers to use herbal clay and biodegradable materials for the manufacture of idols. The Committee said POP (Plaster of Paris)-based idols shall not be allowed for immersion in water bodies (ghats/ponds) except in special locations identified with the aid of authorities.
“Safety measures are to be taken at the banks of river Yamuna at some point of immersion of idols as specific in the guidelines. As some distance as possible, inspire immersion of idols in a bucket of water or synthetic ponds. Worship materials can also be accrued one at a time for disposal,” the committee said.
Ganesh Chaturthi is a ten-day lengthy competition that started out on August 31 and will stop on September 9 with Visarjan (immersion of idols in water bodies). This festival marks the birth of Lord Ganesha.
Celebrated in Shukla Paksha of the month Ashwin in the Hindu calendar (September-October), Durga Puja celebrations this year start offevolved from September 25 with Shasthi falling on October 1. Months before the festival, artisanal workshops sculpt idols of Durga and her teenagers (Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesh) using unfired clay.
The festival marks it’s commencing on the day of Mahalaya when the ritual of ‘pran pratistha’ is achieved through painting the eyes of the goddess idol. Sasthi, Saptami, Ashtami…every day the festival has its own importance and set of rituals. The celebrations culminate on the tenth day recognized as Vijaya Dashami when the idols are immersed in water bodies.
