This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/03/hindu-festival-indian-waterways-flowers-idol-debris-yamuna-river
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Hindu festival chokes Indian waterways with flowers and idol debris | Hindu festival chokes Indian waterways with flowers and idol debris |
| (4 days later) | |
| Sections of a major river in Delhi are choking with plastic, flowers and debris after an annual Hindu festival in which hundreds of idols were immersed in Indian waterways. | Sections of a major river in Delhi are choking with plastic, flowers and debris after an annual Hindu festival in which hundreds of idols were immersed in Indian waterways. |
| The 10-day Durga Puja, which celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, concluded over the weekend with mass immersion ceremonies across the Indian subcontinent. | The 10-day Durga Puja, which celebrates the victory of the goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura, concluded over the weekend with mass immersion ceremonies across the Indian subcontinent. |
| Enormous and elaborate likenesses of Durga – usually depicted with 10 arms and riding a lion – were paraded through cities and villages by devotees on Saturday and then cast into water, symbolising the goddess’ return to her mythological home on Mount Kailash. | Enormous and elaborate likenesses of Durga – usually depicted with 10 arms and riding a lion – were paraded through cities and villages by devotees on Saturday and then cast into water, symbolising the goddess’ return to her mythological home on Mount Kailash. |
| But in the days after the festival, waterways dense with debris, rubbish and flowers have become a regular sight, particularly in large population centres such as Delhi, whose main river, the Yamuna, is already one of the most polluted in India. | But in the days after the festival, waterways dense with debris, rubbish and flowers have become a regular sight, particularly in large population centres such as Delhi, whose main river, the Yamuna, is already one of the most polluted in India. |
| Indian courts have tried to mitigate the environmental damage by banning the immersion of idols made from non-biodegradable materials such as gypsum plaster. | Indian courts have tried to mitigate the environmental damage by banning the immersion of idols made from non-biodegradable materials such as gypsum plaster. |
| In many cities, including Delhi, the immersions are permitted only in select areas of the river that are fenced off to prevent pollution flowing into the stream. | In many cities, including Delhi, the immersions are permitted only in select areas of the river that are fenced off to prevent pollution flowing into the stream. |
| But Sanjay Upadhyay, an environmental lawyer who has fought for regulation of the ceremony, said there was little enforcement of the court orders in the Indian capital. | But Sanjay Upadhyay, an environmental lawyer who has fought for regulation of the ceremony, said there was little enforcement of the court orders in the Indian capital. |
| “There is no check on whether a particular idol is biodegradable, or whether the non-biodegradable material has been removed before the idol is immersed,” he said. | “There is no check on whether a particular idol is biodegradable, or whether the non-biodegradable material has been removed before the idol is immersed,” he said. |
| Nor was there a coordinated effort to manage the use or clean-up of the Yamuna after the festival, he added. | Nor was there a coordinated effort to manage the use or clean-up of the Yamuna after the festival, he added. |
| The immersions have taken place in some form since at least the 14th century, but Upadhyay said the sheer scale of modern ceremonies was overwhelming the Yamuna. | The immersions have taken place in some form since at least the 14th century, but Upadhyay said the sheer scale of modern ceremonies was overwhelming the Yamuna. |
| “It’s about numbers,” he said. “We are a huge country and a huge place in Delhi. It’s the magnitude, and what little happens to mitigate that.” | “It’s about numbers,” he said. “We are a huge country and a huge place in Delhi. It’s the magnitude, and what little happens to mitigate that.” |
| Idols were also immersed in the Yamuna last month for Ganesha Chaturthi, a 10-day festival in honour of the Hindu god Ganesh. | Idols were also immersed in the Yamuna last month for Ganesha Chaturthi, a 10-day festival in honour of the Hindu god Ganesh. |
| The environmental toll of large religious festivals is becoming increasingly evident across South Asia. | The environmental toll of large religious festivals is becoming increasingly evident across South Asia. |
| Air pollution after Diwali – in which thousands of fireworks are set off across the subcontinent – led to schools and construction sites being shut down in Delhi last November. | Air pollution after Diwali – in which thousands of fireworks are set off across the subcontinent – led to schools and construction sites being shut down in Delhi last November. |
| In Dhaka, the Bangladesh capital, last year heavy rains and poor drainage led to torrents of blood in the streets when thousands of animals were sacrificed for the annual Islamic festival Eid al-Adha. | In Dhaka, the Bangladesh capital, last year heavy rains and poor drainage led to torrents of blood in the streets when thousands of animals were sacrificed for the annual Islamic festival Eid al-Adha. |
| Delhi | Delhi |
| India | India |
| South and Central Asia | South and Central Asia |
| Pollution | Pollution |
| Rivers | Rivers |
| Water | Water |
| news | news |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |