The disposal of Ganesh and Laxmi idols after Diwali should be done respectfully and environmentally friendly. Here are some suggestions on the proper way to dispose of these idols and what to avoid:
Avoid immersion in water bodies
While the tradition involves immersing idols in rivers or oceans, it can adversely affect the environment due to the materials used in making the idols. If you opt for immersion, consider using eco-friendly idols made from natural materials that won’t harm the water bodies.
Use Clay or natural material idols
Opt for eco-friendly idols made from clay or natural materials. These idols are biodegradable and do not harm the environment when disposed of. You can place them in a compost pit or bury them in your garden after the festivities.
Reuse or recycle
If the idols are made of materials like plaster of Paris (Pop) or other non-biodegradable substances, consider reusing or recycling them if possible. Some communities organize collection drives to gather such idols for proper recycling or disposal.
Disposal centers or programs
Check if your city or locality has designated disposal centers or programs specifically created for post-festival idol disposal. Many places have initiated programs to collect and dispose of idols in an environmentally friendly manner.
Consult local authorities or religious organizations
Reach out to local authorities or religious organizations for guidance on the appropriate disposal methods in your area. They may provide specific instructions or arrangements for proper disposal.
Symbolic immersion
Instead of immersing idols in water bodies, consider performing a symbolic immersion at home. You can immerse the idols in a bucket or large container of water and then reuse the water for watering plants or gardens.
Remember, the key is to ensure that the disposal is done in a way that respects the environment and traditions. It’s essential to prioritize eco-friendly methods to minimize the impact on nature while honouring the significance of the festival.
How does OSR Trust help in the disposal of religious waste and Ganesh Lakshmi Idols ?
We Aim Towards Making India a Worship-Waste-Free Nation!
India is a land of religious-minded people. Thousands of devotees from all across the nation throng the temples every day and are likely to dispose of Pooja waste in the nearby rivers. Some of these pollutants are highly dangerous and cost dearly to living beings. To cure this menace and to make India a Pooja-waste-free nation, OSR charitable trust has come into being. With the grace of God, we have successfully converted and recycled Pooja’s waste materials into useful things that can be put into use again. We are committed to keeping the nation neat and clean especially the premises of the temples where tons of items are disposed of under the religious trees or dumped alongside. This is hazardous to the animals that feed on them. Apart from this, the dumping of Pooja waste also causes environmental pollution and the spread of several diseases. A healthy nation means a happy nation. Our charitable trust is on the mission to make India a better and cleaner religious place by taking care of all the safe and useful disposal of worship leftover (waste). Hopefully, this mission a complete success with the cooperation of the devotees.
We Put Worship-waste to Good Use!
Many devotees immerse the worship leftover (waste) in the nearby rivers. Just think of broken idols, agarbattis, grains, sacred threads, and tons of other religious things that are difficult to recycle and pollute the water. This harms both the flora and fauna of the river. Well-known rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati are meeting the same fate. Not only this, the religious trees are not spared either. Some people just dump the waste in the nearby areas and walk off. We take care of this to keep the environment neat and clean. We are committed to putting all the Pooja waste to good use. We make sure that all the harmful waste is disposed of safely and effectively. Anything about the Pooja whether it is dhoop-batti, earthen pots, scared threads, or anything, we always ensure that it does not ruin the environment. In short, we are on the mission of making a cleaner nation for the devotees and a better place to live for all of us. This will be possible with the assistance of the cooperation of the public at large.