Greater Noida (Hridaya Mohan): The festive season in India is not just a calendar of events – it is an emotional journey. From the joyous chants of Ganpati Bappa Morya during Ganesh Puja, to the grandeur of Durga Puja, the victory of good over evil on Dussehra and the lights of Diwali that brighten every corner of our homes – these months are truly the heartbeat of our cultural life. Streets glow with decorations, families gather for prayers and communities come alive with music, dance and devotion.
Yet, alongside the splendour and celebration, another story unfolds quietly – one of mounting environmental stress. Idols made of plaster of Paris (PoP) painted with synthetic colours choke our rivers and lakes after immersion. Firecrackers fill the skies with toxic smoke, raising pollution levels and causing health hazards. Non-biodegradable decorations pile up as waste. Temporary structures strain local resources and loudspeakers disturb both people and wildlife.
Why Go Green in Festivals?
As India strives to build a sustainable future, it is worth asking: Can our festivals remain joyous while also being green? The answer lies in balancing tradition with responsibility – and one powerful tool to guide us is the principle of Leave No Trace (LNT).
What is LNT?
The concept of Leave No Trace originated in the United States in the mid-20th century. As outdoor recreation became popular, people noticed how camping, trekking and picnicking were damaging pristine natural spaces. In response, environmentalists developed a framework of simple principles designed to reduce human impact on nature.
The seven LNT principles are:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of others
At its core, LNT encourages people to enjoy nature without leaving behind a trace of their presence. While the idea was born in the wilderness, its wisdom can be applied to any human activity – including India’s festivals.
Why Festivals Need a Green Lens
Festivals are inseparable from Indian culture and idol worship is at the heart of many celebrations. However, the sheer scale of festivities in our cities and towns means that their environmental impact is no longer negligible.
- Water Pollution: Every year, lakhs of idols made of PoP and painted with harmful dyes are immersed in rivers and lakes. These materials do not dissolve easily and release toxins, threatening aquatic life and contaminating drinking water sources.
- Air Pollution: Firecrackers, though symbolic of joy, cause sharp spikes in air pollution, worsen respiratory problems and add to climate concerns.
- Noise Pollution: Loudspeakers, drums and crackers disturb communities, students, elderly citizens and wildlife alike.
- Waste Generation: From thermocol decorations to plastic flowers and garlands, most festival waste end-up in landfills, adding to India’s mounting waste management crisis.
- Resource Pressure: Temporary pandals, lighting and heavy footfall put strain on local resources such as electricity, water and public spaces.
It is important to stress that this is not a call to dilute our traditions. Instead, it is a call to reimagine how we can celebrate in ways that preserve both culture and nature.
Applying LNT Principles to Indian Festivals
By adapting the spirit of LNT, our festivals can become more responsible and sustainable. Here are some ways:
- Educational Campaigns: Awareness is the first step. Local governments, NGOs and resident welfare associations can conduct campaigns before festivals, educating communities about the environmental impact of traditional practices and suggesting eco-friendly alternatives. Schools and colleges can also involve students in projects promoting green celebrations.
- Eco-friendly Idols: Clay idols painted with natural pigments dissolve harmlessly in water. Some artisans have even innovated with seed-infused idols that grow into plants after immersion! Governments can encourage this by offering incentives to artisans who use biodegradable materials and restricting the sale of PoP idols.
- Greener Pandals: Temporary structures need not mean waste. Using bamboo, cloth, recycled wood and other sustainable materials ensures that pandals can be dismantled and reused without harming the environment. Choosing community halls or eco-friendly venues instead of fragile natural sites is another way to reduce impact.
- Sustainable Decorations: Instead of thermocol, plastic flowers and glitter, communities can opt for cloth buntings, paper art, fresh flowers, banana leaves and rangoli made from natural colours. Decorations should be reusable, compostable or recyclable.
- Lighting with Care: Switching to LED lighting saves energy and reduces costs. Solar-powered installations can also be introduced in public spaces. At the same time, overuse of lighting should be avoided to conserve electricity.
- Reducing Firecrackers: The harmful impact of crackers is now widely acknowledged. Communities can celebrate with cultural performances, music, lamps and laser shows instead. If used, crackers should be minimal and eco-friendly versions preferred.
- Noise Management: Festive music adds joy, but volume control is essential. Respecting time limits and avoiding excessively loud speakers ensures that celebrations remain inclusive and considerate.
- Waste Segregation and Recycling: Dedicated collection points for floral offerings, plastics and other waste at pandals and immersion sites can ensure proper disposal. Flowers can be composted, plastics sent for recycling and other waste handled responsibly.
- Safe Immersion Practices: Authorities can designate specific immersion sites with proper arrangements to collect idols and debris, preventing pollution of natural water bodies. Artificial ponds can also be created for immersion in cities.
- Post-festival Clean-ups: The spirit of LNT means not just celebrating responsibly, but also restoring spaces afterwards. Community clean-up drives in public areas, riversides and lakes can help return them to their original state.
Festivals as a Force for Change
Adopting LNT is not about giving up joy – it is about celebrating with mindfulness. Imagine a Ganesh Puja where idols are made of clay and flowers from offerings are composted into organic manure for city gardens. Picture a Durga Puja pandal lit entirely by solar power. Envision a Diwali where children light lamps, not crackers, filling the night with beauty but not smog.
Such changes preserve our traditions while making them more relevant in a time when climate change and environmental degradation are urgent concerns. Festivals can thus become role models of sustainability, showing how collective joy can go hand in hand with collective responsibility.
A Collective Pledge
India’s cultural calendar is rich and endless. Each festival – whether Holi, Eid, Christmas or Baisakhi – has its own beauty. If every celebration adopts even a few of the LNT-inspired practices, the cumulative impact will be transformative.
As citizens, we must remember that devotion to the divine cannot mean indifference to creation. Respecting nature is itself a sacred act. By ensuring that our celebrations leave no harmful trace, we honour both our traditions and our planet.
This festive season, let us pledge:
Celebrate with joy. Celebrate with faith. Celebrate with responsibility. Leave No Trace – only blessings.
Best wishes for truly Green Celebrations…!
About the Author
Mr. Hridaya Mohan (hridayamohan@yahoo.co.in) is a regular Columnist with a renowned Indian daily “The Hitavada”, “Bharat Neeti Media” and some other newspapers / magazines internationally. He lived and worked in Beijing for 6 long years as Chief Representative (China & Mongolia), SAIL. Recipient of “Sir M Visvesvaraya Gold Medal”for one of his papers, “Benchmarking of Maintenance Practices in Steel Industry” from The Institution of Engineers (India), he was awarded with “Scroll of Honour” for the excellent contributions to Engineering fraternity from IE(I), Bhilai, “Jawahar Award” for leadership excellence in SAIL and “Supply Chain Leader – 2017” award from IIMM. The writer lived and worked in Beijing for 6 long years as Chief Representative (China & Mongolia), SAIL.
