Last Update: 24 October 2022, 07:20 IST
Happy Diwali 2022: During Diwali, people bring home new idols of Mata Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha and replace them with old ones. (Representative image: Shutterstock)
Happy Diwali 2022: Traditionally, the idols were made of clay and painted with organic colours. But in present time plaster of paris or plastic is more used with harmful paint
Happy Diwali 2022: Diwali, the festival of lights, is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country. During Diwali, people bring home new idols of Mata Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha and replace them with old ones. Not only this, people buy all the necessary items for Diwali Puja. But many people do not know what to do with the old idols and essential items of worship after the festival. Some throw them near trees, while others immerse them in water bodies.
Traditionally, the idols were made of clay and painted with organic dyes. But in present times, there is more use of Plaster of Paris (POP) or plastic along with harmful paints which contain metals like manganese, lead and chromium to curate the idols. All this contributes to polluting the water body.
After Diwali, religious activities will generate a lot of garbage that the devotee will want to discard, so here are some suggestions:
- When you plan to buy pooja material, make sure that it is made from natural ingredients only. Invest in either permanent sculptures such as metal or natural clay. Do not buy idols made from synthetic material like POP. It may look shiny and flashy, however, glare and chemicals add to the pollution. To determine whether the idol is made of clay or not, put a drop of water behind it. The clay idol will absorb all the water.
- When the idol turns into soil, you can use the water in the garden and the soil can be used for gardening.
- After the festival is over, immerse the idols in a bucket of water. But remember to remove the plastic or non-biodegradable material from the idols before immersion.
- Opt to reuse the idols to save the environment and prevent pollution. However, if that is not an option, then donate the idol to a temple or holy place.
- Another option is to dig up the soil and bury all the natural things in it so that it can rot and at the same time it does not pollute the soil.
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