The Delhi government has announced a new initiative aimed at ensuring the dignified disposal of damaged idols and religious items. This initiative includes the establishment of 110 collection centres across the city where individuals can deposit old or damaged puja materials. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has emphasised the importance of this programme, promoting eco-friendly methods for Ganesh immersion.

The collection centres, termed ‘Visarjan Patras’, are strategically located in 18 identified regional clusters throughout Delhi. This effort is designed to prevent individuals from discarding religious items in public spaces, fostering communal responsibility towards cleanliness and environmental stewardship.

Participants in this initiative can donate various religious items at the collection points. Acceptable materials include old or damaged framed pictures, murtis (idols), religious calendars, and puja-related decorations such as pooja chowkis and broken diyas. Additionally, dry flowers, garlands, cotton wicks, and incense sticks are also welcome, promoting the recycling and reprocessing of these materials.

Artificial Immersion Ponds Across the City

In conjunction with the collection centres, the Delhi government has set up 81 artificial immersion ponds throughout all 13 districts of the city. These ponds will serve as designated sites for Ganesh visarjan, helping to manage the immersion process during the festival effectively.

The government is taking considerable measures to ensure that the immersion sites are well equipped. Arrangements for security, lighting, sanitation, medical assistance, emergency response, and traffic management are being made at all immersion locations. This thorough planning aims to provide a safe and orderly environment for devotees during the celebrations.

CM Rekha Gupta has kindly requested that worshippers make use of these designated immersion sites and refrain from immersing idols in the Yamuna or other water bodies. This call to action highlights the government’s commitment to protecting Delhi’s water bodies from pollution associated with improper idol immersion.

Promoting Eco-Friendly Practices During Ganesh Chaturthi

The initiative not only prioritises the proper disposal of religious materials but also advocates for the use of eco-friendly idols. CM Gupta has urged the public to choose idols made from sustainable materials rather than Plaster of Paris and to avoid harmful chemical colours. This push for environmentally friendly practices is intended to ensure that the festival does not harm local ecosystems.

Following the immersion celebrations, the government has pledged to clear any remnants of idols and puja materials from the immersion sites promptly. This action is part of the broader aim to uphold cleanliness in public spaces and safeguard Delhi’s water bodies from contamination.

Ganesh Chaturthi, a prominent festival in India, commemorates the birth of Lord Ganesha and is celebrated by communities across the nation. The festival culminates in Ganesh Visarjan, a ritual where devotees immerse the idol in water, symbolising the return of Ganesha to his celestial abode. Through this initiative, the Delhi government aims to facilitate religious observances while simultaneously promoting environmental well-being.

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