FESTIVAL, this word signifies happiness, excitement, bliss, and fervor. Festivals are the way to happiness. On festivals, we all rejoice and reunite, forgetting past differences. Festivals are magical. They cheer up even the most depressed minds and rejoice the shattered hearts. They motivate every individual in some way or the other.
Worth mentioning, God invented festivals only to refresh and rejuvenate the earth and make every person merry. Festivals change the atmosphere of the world. Festivals make the withered, dry earth, green and lively with happiness. Festivals paint the colorless earth with zeal. Festivals quench the thirst of the earth with euphoria. If there would have been no festivals, then perhaps some people in this world would have forgotten to smile, laugh, and be happy.
India relishes a series of festivals throughout the year. It would not be wrong to say that the aroma of festivals resides on India’s soil. Festivals are the jewels of our BHARAT MAA. India is blessed with colorful, blissful, and illuminating festivals. Some major Indian festivals fall in the months of July-September-October. During these three months, India experiences the exhilaration of festivals. With the onset of festival season in India, every house welcomes jubilation and ecstasy.
There are many festivals, one amongst them is GANESH CHATURTHI. As the title itself says, this is the festival of Lord Ganesh, God of wisdom and prosperity. It is celebrated all over India but has greater significance in Maharashtra. It is celebrated for days. Ganesh Chaturthi brings with it devotion, reverence, and faith. On the first day, the idol of Lord Ganesh is installed at homes. It is venerated for 10 days. Pandals are decorated. Bappa’s (Lord Ganesh’s) aarti is performed. People pray for their well-being and make vows. There is a program of BHAJAN-KIRTAN, SONGS-DANCE. People prepare different varieties of food and sweets- Prasad for Bappa (Lord Ganesh) with reverence and joy. It is also customary to make Modak, Bappa’s favorite sweet on this day.
In short, JUBILATION casts the homes. Then, on the tenth day, the idol of Lord Ganesh which is worshipped and venerated for 9 days, is immersed into the sea. This is called GANESH VISARJAN. VISARJAN means farewell. This symbolizes the fact that Lord Ganesh will enlighten us with wisdom and prosperity, will take away all our sorrows and problems, and will permit us to welcome him in our homes next year as well. That’s why, while bidding Bappa Adieu, people say, ‘AGLE BARAS TU LUKARIYAN!’ (Bappa! Visit us next year as well)
Though this festival brings a wave of elation, exultation, and merriment all over India, the Visarjan puja harms the environment. HOW? The idol of Lord Ganesh, which is immersed in water is made of plastic. And we all very well know about the ill effects of plastic on the environment. It not only pollutes the water but could be fatal for the organisms as well. Plastic doesn’t melt soon. It stays as it is for about 500 hundred years. Since the idol of Lord Ganesh immersed in water is made up of plastic, it shows ill effects. It pollutes the sea, harms the environment, and therefore, acts as black spot-on happiness. What is the use of such devotion which harms someone? It is futile. Bappa won’t like it, rather it would disappoint him.
The festivals should be celebrated in such a way that everyone relishes yet no one suffers. In the name of the festival, harming the environment or making others suffer, is a sin. It is an unjustified deed. It doesn’t please God rather disappoints him. Would Bappa, the preserver of all, be happy with the destruction of the environment? Would he bless those, who intentionally tend to harm Mother Earth? Obviously, not. Nature is one of the most precious and beautiful gifts from God. We should try our best to refrain from causing this precious gift any harm in the name of festivals. Festivals are meant to spread goodness and not destruction.
So, what’s the remedy for this? Should Visarjan Puja be avoided? Should it not be performed? Obviously NOT. It’s an important ritual of the festival. Refraining from performing a custom involved in festivals just because they harm the environment, is no solution. There are alternatives for everything. Can’t the materials used in making the idols, be changed? Can’t we make idols of soil or clay except for Plastic? Even flour can be used. And for those who can afford it, a metal idol is also an option.
In simpler words, the idols should be 100% biodegradable. They can be made at home as well if it is hard to be arranged from the markets. By just molding dough or clay, the idol can be made. It would add more excitement to the festival. There was a society that made an edible idol of Lord Ganesh using biscuits, chocolates, cakes, candies, and sweets! Then, they immersed it in milk, hence making prasad. They installed a small idol of Bappa made of soil to do the venerations. Can’t we get eco-friendly idols of lord Ganesh? Hence, celebrating the festival in a nice and non-harming way.
Festivals are so much fun. The fun should not be spoilt by harming others. And it is not just the Visarjan Puja that harms the environment, some rituals of some other festivals may also be destructive to the environment. Festivals should be enjoyed in the best way possible, but while having fun we should think about our surroundings and refrain from causing anybody any harm. God has kept these days aside for us to take a break from our monotonous routine and cherish times with our families and friends. These days are meant to be enjoyed and so they should be. As rightly said by someone,
‘FESTIVALS ATTRACT POSITIVITY AND……
REPEL NEGATIVITY’
So, let’s be positive and celebrate festivals in a non-harming manner!
HAPPY POSITIVE FESTIVALS!
By: Prabhgun Kaur
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