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By Sulaiman Razvi<\/p>\n
Minorities in India should be glad that they don’t have festivals like that of Hindus otherwise minorities wouldn’t have been able to celebrate festivals as restrictions would’ve been imposed by tolerant Hindus citing air, water and noise pollution. From birth to death, Hindu rituals and festivals are dangerous for environment. The Azaan of Muslims which lasts no longer than 3 minutes is viewed as noise pollution by Hindus and there were even protests by Hindus and FIRs to stop Azaan. VHP demands to ban loudspeaker in Mosques http:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/other-states\/vhp-to-fadnavis-ban-loudspeakers-in-mosques\/article6676656.ece<\/a><\/p>\n HJS organizes campaign to ban loudspeakers in mosques in Thane Shiv Sena targets mosque loudspeakers Hindus have problem with Azaan because it’s related to Muslims. But they have no problem singing Bhajans on loudspeakers, doing Jagrata at night, playing non-stop music at Ganesh Chaturthi and almost on every festival that occurs every month. Hindu organisations do not call for ban on these things because these are related to Hinduism. As I said from birth to death Hindus pollutes the environment, they do Mundan when baby is born and immerses it in pond, lake or river, they do Yajnas where wood is burned and at death huge pyre is set up with wood and cow dung causing air pollution and then the ashes are immersed in ponds, lakes or river. Much damage is caused to environment celebrating Hindu festivals. Hindus relish meat throughout the year but suddenly develop love for animals during Muslim festival called Bakrid (Indian name for Id ul Adha), But Hindus ignore thousands of fish that die after Ganesh immersion due to the toxic. Hindu body burned 500 quintals of mango wood for nine days to \u2018reduce pollution\u2019<\/a>, if they were really serious about reducing pollution then they have to stop their pollution festivals first. Ganesh Chaturthi: Water Pollution & Noise Pollution<\/a><\/p>\n Durga Puja: Same as Ganesh Chaturthi<\/a><\/p>\n Kumbh Mela<\/a><\/p>\n Cremation<\/a><\/p>\n Rivers polluted due to Hindu religious practices<\/a><\/p>\n Chhath Puja: Water and Air Pollution<\/a><\/p>\n Kali Puja: Air and Water Pollution<\/a><\/p>\n Diwali: Air and Noise Pollution<\/a><\/p>\n Dushera: Air and Noise Pollution<\/a><\/p>\n Navratri: Noise pollution and water pollution<\/a><\/p>\n Holi: Water wastage and hazardous toxics for environment<\/a><\/p>\n Temple Loudspeakers<\/a><\/p>\n Road Block<\/a><\/p>\n Dead fish found floating in Milapnagar lake after Ganpati visarjan<\/strong> Chemicals From The Ganesh Idol Visarjan Kill More Than 300 Fish In A Mumbai Pond Ganesh immersions in water bodies: NGT asks civic bodies, district collector to respond<\/strong> Noise pollution rising during Ganesh festival over the years Ganpati Immersion: Noise levels break all records, reach 123.7 dB on last day<\/strong> Ganeshotsav: Noise levels above limit at all silence zones<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n Durga Puja: Yamuna pollution spiked during idol immersion but river cleaning helped<\/strong> Noise pollution went up even this Durga Puja Ghats scarred by remains of Puja revelry<\/strong> Idol immersion shrinks Haryana\u2019s biggest lake, pollutes groundwater<\/strong> 2016 Polluting Gods: A Photo Story on the Environmental Impact of Idol Immersion<\/strong> 2016 Religion should not be an excuse to further choke our rivers<\/strong> 2017 After Durga Puja immersion in Delhi, this is what Yamuna looks like<\/strong> 2017 Yamuna in distress after immersions<\/strong> Hyderabad: More idols add to lake pollution<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n 18,000 MT of Solid Garbage Generated During Maha Kumbh Mela, NGT Censures<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n One of India\u2019s largest Adivasi groups has dropped its ancient cremation ritual to save trees<\/strong><\/p>\n According to estimates<\/a>, funeral pyres consume 6 crore trees annually, producing 80 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions and 5,00,000 tonnes of ash which is later thrown into rivers.<\/p>\n \u201cA traditional pyre takes six hours and requires 500 kg to 600 kg of wood to burn a body completely, while the benefit of our alternate system is that it takes up to two hours and 150 kg to 200 kg of wood to burn a body,\u201d explains Anshul Garg, executive officer of Mokshda said.<\/p>\n https:\/\/scroll.in\/article\/990460\/one-of-indias-largest-adivasi-groups-has-dropped-its-ancient-cremation-ritual-to-save-trees<\/a><\/p>\n Horrifying! Over 2,000 bodies found within 1,140 kms on banks of River Ganga in Uttar Pradesh<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.freepressjournal.in\/india\/horrifying-over-2000-bodies-found-within-1140-kms-on-banks-of-river-ganga-in-uttar-pradesh<\/a><\/p>\n top<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ganga river is the second most polluted river in the world due to Hindu religious practices. Saffron isn\u2019t green: When religion is the pollutant, can Modi clean up Ganga?<\/strong> In the name of God and devotion: Is it really worth taking a dip in toxic Yamuna?<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n Despite barricades on ghats, Yamuna left a polluted mess after Chhath Puja<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n Pollution control board limits noise level of crackers<\/strong> Immersion after-effect: Idols raise Hooghly water toxicity<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n Increased pollution during Diwali causes breathing problems in Bengaluru<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n In air quality, victory of evil over good<\/strong> top<\/a><\/p>\n
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\nHindutva outfit launches campaign to ban Fajr Azaan in India http:\/\/www.coastaldigest.com\/index.php\/news\/64901-hindutva-outfit-launches-campaign-to-ban-fajr-adhan-in-india<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/twocircles.net\/2014may28\/hjs_organizes_campaign_ban_loudspeakers_mosques_thane.html#.V2-AvqKPyV8<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.dnaindia.com\/mumbai\/report-shiv-sena-targets-mosque-loudspeakers-1455753<\/a><\/p>\n
\nFollowing are some links with data showing rise in pollution after Hindu festivals like Diwali, Holi and Ganesh Chaturthi.
\n<\/a><\/p>\nCONTENTS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a>Ganesh Chaturthi: Water Pollution & Noise Pollution<\/h1>\n
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<\/span><\/h1>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.dnaindia.com\/mumbai\/report-dead-fish-found-floating-in-milapnagar-lake-after-ganpati-visarjan-2129648<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.indiatimes.com\/news\/india\/chemicals-from-the-ganesh-idol-visarjan-kill-more-than-300-fish-in-a-mumbai-pond-262270.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/cities\/pune\/ganesh-immersions-in-water-bodies-ngt-asks-civic-bodies-district-collector-to-respond\/<\/a>
\nThe pollution from immersion of such idols, the EIL stated, also damaged the ecosystem, killed fish and other marine life.
\n“Toxic” Indian festivals poison waterways<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/us-india-festival-pollution-idUSDEL3263220080818<\/a>
\n“Toxic chemicals from thousands of idols of Hindu gods immersed in rivers and lakes across India are causing pollution which is killing fish and contaminating food crops, experts and environmentalists said on Monday.”
\n“Environmentalists say the idols are often made from non-biodegradable materials such as plastic, cement and plaster of Paris and painted with toxic dyes.
\nAfter the statues are immersed, the toxins then contaminate food crops when villagers use the polluted water for irrigation, said Shyam Asolekar, science and engineering head at the Indian Institute of Technology in Mumbai.
\n“Even small traces are extremely toxic as they persist in the body for a long time and accumulate in the human tissues,” said Asolekar, who has closely studied the effects of Hindu customs.”
\n‘Water, air pollution up after Ganesh immersion’
\n<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/pune\/Water-air-pollution-up-after-Ganesh-immersion\/articleshow\/16831273.cms<\/a>
\n“The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has found that there was an increase in several pollutants in water bodies and in respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) in the air after the Ganesh immersion this year. The rise in water pollution is attributed to immersion of idols made of Plaster of Paris and chemical paints.”
\n“Presence of the respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) crossed permissible limit in almost all the areas where the ambient air quality was monitored by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). In some places like Chapekar Chowk and Pimpri, the RSPM level crossed 200 ug\/m3 (microgram per cubic metre), whereas the permissible limit is 100 ug\/m3. The RSPM, which is a major component of air pollution, is dangerous for human health.”
\n“The readings before and during Ganesh festival show that the RSPM level was higher during the festival. In Pimpri, the level was 342 ug\/m3 on September 19 (pre-festival it was 180.6 ug\/m3), 281.50 in Chapekar Chowk on September 29 (63 ug\/m3 pre-festival), 112 ug\/m3 in Shivajinagar on September 29 (105 ug\/m3 pre-festival), 135 ug\/m3 in Sanghvi on September 19 (114 ug\/m3 pre festival) and 109.6 ug\/m3 in Khadki on September 19 (92 mg\/u3 pre festival).”
\nGanesha Chaturthi: The environmental impact of the festival
\n<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/indiatoday.intoday.in\/education\/story\/ganesh-chaturthi\/1\/475056.html<\/a>
\nLet’s look at some of the facts on the pollution caused by the statues of Ganesha:
\nPlaster of Paris idols may take anywhere between several months to years to fully dissolve
\nIt also reduces the oxygen level in the water, killing the fish and other aquatic organisms
\nThe paints contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead, which seep into the water as the idol dissolves
\nThe acid content in the waters increases
\nIdols made using plastic, cement, etc. do not dissolve in the water; thus polluting the water
\nSeveral accessories used during the festival like plastic flowers, cloth, incense, camphor and numerous other materials are dumped carelessly adding more strain to the already polluted rivers and lakes
\nCareless dumping of Ganesh idols in water bodies blocks the natural flow of water which results in breeding of mosquitoes and other harmful pests
\nThe polluted water causes several diseases including skin diseases.
\nScientists worried over pollution by Ganesh immersion<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/todays-paper\/tp-in-school\/idol-immersion-polluting-indias-waters\/article3378268.ece<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/education\/2012\/apr\/30\/improbable-research-indian-water-pollution<\/a>
\n“Some studies concentrate on isolating the effects of idols from those of other sources. Impact of Ganesh Idol Immersion Activities on the Water Quality of Tapi River, Surat (Gujarat, India) tells of sampling the water “at morning hours during pre-immersion, during immersion and post-immersion periods of Ganesh idols”. The conclusion: the “main reason of the deterioration of water quality \u2026 is various religious activities”, with special blame given to “the plaster of paris, clothes, iron rods, chemical colours, varnish and paints used for making the idols”.
\nGanesh Chaturthi: India’s toxic festival
\n<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/commentisfree\/belief\/2010\/sep\/22\/ganesh-chaturthi-indias-toxic-festival<\/a>
\n“As a result, the Central Pollution Control Board<\/a> reports that the annual immersion of Ganesh idols has significantly increased the content of iron, copper, mercury, chromium and acid in water surrounding Mumbai and other western Indian towns. Equally worrying is how Indian fishing communities often find pieces of once-revered Ganesh idols tangled in their nets, alongside dead mercury-laden fish.”
\nGanesh festival leaves 50-tonne waste trail in Chennai<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/home\/environment\/pollution\/Ganesh-festival-leaves-50-tonne-waste-trail-in-Chennai\/articleshow\/49053088.cms<\/a>
\nGanesh immersion begins, so does pollution
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/nagpur\/Ganesh-immersion-begins-so-does-pollution\/articleshow\/54038273.cms<\/a>
\n<\/strong>
\nMore links<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.dnaindia.com\/mumbai\/report-ganesh-visarjan-how-it-impacts-our-environment-1887519<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.indiawaterportal.org\/news\/maharashtra-pollution-control-board-ascertains-ganesh-immersion-worsens-air-water-pollution<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.telegraphindia.com\/1110825\/jsp\/orissa\/story_14420446.jsp<\/a>
\nGanesh idol immersion kills fishes and other marine lives
\nhttp:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/opinion\/open-page\/could-lord-ganesha-be-treated-better\/article5252041.ece<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.deccanherald.com\/content\/193920\/fish-kill-kalkere-pond.html<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.deccanchronicle.com\/140910\/nation-current-affairs\/article\/ganesha-fest-no-more-plastering-city-toxic-idols<\/a><\/p>\nNoise Pollution<\/span><\/h3>\n
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\n<\/strong>
\nNoise levels have been consistently rising over the last decade. The festival was noisiest in 2013, when average reading showed levels as high as 114.4 decibels, according to data from COEP. From 2001 till 2014, the COEP has been monitoring noise levels on the concluding day of the festival \u2013 during the immersion procession \u2013 and has found average noise levels ranging between 90 and 100 dB, Dr Shindikar said.
\nhttp:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/cities\/pune\/noise-pollution-rising-during-ganesh-festival-over-the-years\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWhile most Ganesh mandals followed the Bombay High Court order to limit loudspeaker use, the procession on the last day of Ganpati celebration broke noise level records in Mumbai.
\nhttp:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/cities\/mumbai\/ganpati-immersion-noise-levels-break-all-records-reach-123-7-db-on-last-day\/
\n<\/a>
\nNoise levels were double permissible limits on fifth day of immersion<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/mumbai\/Noise-levels-were-double-permissible-limits-on-fifth-day-of-immersion\/articleshow\/54270823.cms<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe fifth day of the Ganeshostav festival was a noisy affair with residential areas near Dadar being the noisiest at 112.7 decibel (dB).
\nhttp:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/mumbai-news\/ganeshotsav-noise-levels-above-limit-at-all-silence-zones\/story-gWtwkAshU1CS3aepLZ9T5K.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Durga Puja: Same as Ganesh Chaturthi<\/h1>\n
\n“A report on the pollution levels in the Yamuna before, during and after idol immersion during Durga Puja shows that pollution levels were highest during the time of immersion, but quick action and a river cleaning plan meant most pollutants were fished out within three days.”
\nhttp:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/cities\/delhi\/durga-puja-yamuna-pollution-spiked-during-idol-immersion-but-river-cleaning-helped-3099351\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/patna\/Noise-pollution-went-up-even-this-Durga-Puja\/articleshow\/54858365.cms<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe west bank of Hooghly suffered large scale pollution as usual during immersion of Durga idols despite efforts by Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC).
\nhttp:\/\/www.telegraphindia.com\/1161017\/jsp\/calcutta\/story_113849.jsp#.WDKnPLJ973g<\/a><\/p>\n
\nDebris of Ganesh and Durga idols and other puja items were found floating in Damdama lake on Sunday evening despite the district administration prohibiting the immersion of idols in the waterbody.
\nhttp:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/gurgaon\/idol-immersion-shrinks-haryana-s-biggest-lake-pollutes-groundwater\/story-1BPL8D5dmQNsTdIUDJUc2H.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMost of my research is based on the private and public immersions of Durga and Ganesh idols.
\nThe environmental effects of idol immersion on water bodies and the ecology of surrounding areas are worsening with each passing season \u2013 something that believers are either unable to understand or vehemently deny. This pollution, along with industrial waste, accumulates in our water bodies, poisoning our water sources.
\nPeople who stand by their religious practices have concluded that poisonous materials such as sewerage account for water pollution. However, the high levels of zinc, calcium and strontium found in the water are probably caused by the multicoloured idols which are immersed in the water, not just sewerage. Plaster of Paris, which is used to make most idols, is not soluble, and ends up clogging the earth and being consumed by fish. Other materials such as clothes, iron rods, varnish and paints made from harmful chemicals that are used for decorate idols also harm the environment.
\nhttp:\/\/thewire.in\/73621\/polluting-gods-a-photo-story-on-the-environmental-impact-of-idol-immersion\/<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe jury is still out on the extent of damage to the Yamuna floodplains following the mega Art of Living meet earlier this year. Now tonnes of debris have been dumped in the river after Durga Puja, putting enormous pressure on what was once the lifeline of Delhi. Religion and tradition may dictate that idols be immersed in the river but given its condition, this practice must be lessened or discontinued altogether. The idols and other objects immersed contain toxic paints and non-biodegradable substances. These choke a river which is already gasping for breath \u2014 along a 22-km stretch of the river that passes through Delhi, there is no aquatic life at all. The pollution is also due to the fact that at least 21 drains discharge their effluent into the river every day accounting for 67% of the pollution. This poses a huge challenge but measures must be taken not to add to this.
\nhttp:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/editorials\/religion-should-not-be-an-excuse-to-further-choke-our-rivers\/story-fgAMWyjztHQCcQQm0BDU7J.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWith nearly 200 Durga Puja pandals immersing idols in the river in Delhi-NCR, Yamuna was choked with debris. The river water was clogged with plastic bags, flower petals and pooja material, besides metal structures
\nhttp:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/delhi-news\/after-durga-puja-immersion-in-delhi-this-is-what-yamuna-looks-like\/story-fcVewnfENHCI4C8P9jVKQL.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nPlight of a river: Remnants of idols and other puja materials collect on the banks of the Yamuna in New Delhi on Sunday, a day after the immersion.
\nDebris from hundreds of Plaster of Paris idols and plastic waste found in different ghats
\nhttp:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/yamuna-in-distress-after-immersions\/article19781685.ece<\/a><\/p>\n
\nThe idols immersed on the Tank bund side remain in water as the lake is deep on taht end.
\nHyderabad saw a 20 per cent increase in the number of idols immersed for Durga Puja, according to officials. Hussainsagar alone received over 2,000 large idols during the nine-day puja period. Apart from the large idols, puja items, polybags and smaller idols also made their way into the lake. This came after the Bathukamma celebrations last week, and the Ganesh nimarjanam last month. All this left no time for the lake to rejuvenate itself.
\nhttp:\/\/www.deccanchronicle.com\/nation\/in-other-news\/031017\/hyderabad-more-idols-add-to-lake-pollution.html<\/a><\/p>\nKumbh Mela
\n<\/span><\/h1>\n
\nThe solid waste has been dumped at the waste treatment plant at Baswar which has been non-operational since September 2018.
\nhttps:\/\/www.newsclick.in\/kumbh-mela-waste-dumped-ngt-censures<\/a>
\nIndia Kumbh Mela dip ‘raised Ganges river pollution’<\/strong>
\nThe study found that the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels – which are used as a measure of the level of organic pollution in the water – had increased to 7.4mg per litre at the main bathing place, known as Sangam, on 14 January 2013.
\nThe BOD level at Sangam a day before was 4.4mg per litre. After 14 January, the BOD levels gradually decreased to 4.8mg per litre on 18 January.
\nExperts say that BOD should not exceed 2mg per litre,
\n“Such high level of BOD in the water shows that organic pollution has increased in the river due to mass bathing,” Pollution Control Board officer Mohd Sikandar said.
\nhttps:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-india-21175890<\/a>
\nNCCS: Mass bathing during Kumbh Mela alters bacterial load, diversity<\/strong>
\nSkin and faecal microbiota increased 2.3-fold and 2.9-fold respectively during the event
\nhttps:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/nccs-mass-bathing-during-kumbh-mela-alters-bacterial-load-diversity\/article25586286.ece<\/a><\/p>\nCremation<\/span><\/h1>\n
<\/a>Rivers polluted due to Hindu religious practices<\/h1>\n
\nKnow why Ganga, Yamuna are among world’s top 10 most polluted rivers
\n<\/strong>Ganga is considered to be the holiest river in Hinduism. It originates from the gangotri glacier in the western Himalayas, flows south and east through the Gangetic plain of north India entering Bangladesh and merges into the Bay of Bengal. Due to religious practices, this river has numerous pollutants ranging from household garbage in abundance to industrial wastes and toxic. Amplifying this, the religious offerings made to the river each day along with people bathing and disposal of dead bodies made the Ganges so polluted that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that people living in the vicinity of the river are vulnerable to cancer.
\nhttp:\/\/www.indiatvnews.com\/news\/india\/know-why-ganga-yamuna-are-among-world-top-10-most-polluted-ri-29013.html?page=3<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIn Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s constituency,\u00a0 monkeys often become entangled in badly outdated overhead power cables. But Hanuman bhakts consider the dead monkeys so sacred that they perform elaborate rituals, including chanting of shlokas, before gently immersing them in the River Ganges.
\nBut will such an uncompromising approach remain so in the face of the very same Hindu traditions when they run afoul of environmental needs? Will Modi ban religious customs like dumping dead humans, monkeys and cows in the Ganges? \u00a0Can he silence Hindutva forces which argue that Ganges is so critically entwined with religion that environmental consequences be damned?
\nA five-star funeral pyre at one of Varanasi\u2019s cremation ghats <\/em>is a lethal affair consuming \u00a0over 450 kg of firewood, at least 100 kg of ghee besides incense sticks or dust and can take up to six hours releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and ashes into the Ganges. Electric crematoriums are only for the have-nots or unclaimed bodies from police morgues disposed off at government expense.
\nBesides 40,000 traditional, open-air cremations every year in Varanasi \u2013 or over 100 daily \u2013 which often entail dumping of human flesh into the Ganges because everyone can\u2019t afford to buy enough firewood to completely burn the corpse, bodies of sanyasi<\/i>s, children and snakebite victims exempted from cremation are bound with stones and immersed in the Ganges which is also the final resting place of chemical-laden images of Durga, Saraswati and Ganesh round the year.
\nAccording to Tripathi, electric crematoriums are a big insult to religious traditions. \u201cThe Shastras<\/em> have laid down that mukhagni\u00a0<\/em>(lighting of a fire in the deceased\u2019s mouth) and kapal kriya<\/em>\u00a0(shattering of the skull by a blow from a stick to release the soul) are vital for moksha<\/em>. Neither ritual can be performed if the body is burned in a crematorium.\u201d
\n\u201cThe Shastras<\/em> have also instructed that bones left after cremation must be immersed in the Ganges. I\u2019m against dumping ash into the river but human remains, especially bones, must be submerged in the river. Otherwise the soul will suffer which is totally unacceptable.\u201d
\nhttp:\/\/www.firstpost.com\/india\/saffron-isnt-green-religion-pollutant-can-modi-clean-ganga-2241984.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nIn Varanasi, for example, it is an age-old belief that a Hindu can only attain moksha (liberation from the spiral of birth and death) if he\/she is cremated at either Manikarnika ghat or Raja Harish Chandra ghat. The conditions at these open cremation grounds, however, are deplorable. Thousands of corpses are burned there every day amidst a background of discarded bamboo biers, filth, cow dung, abandoned plastic bags and human waste. The ashes from the cremation grounds are then thrown into the \u2018holy\u2019 Ganga.
\nFestivals like Durga Puja and Ganesh Chaturthi are also popular among Hindus. Both festivals involve worshiping idols of Goddess Durga and Ganesha, respectively, for weeks before the idols are immersed into natural water bodies.Many of these idols however, are made of non-biodegradable materials like plaster of Paris. The issue of immersion of these idols which are harmful for the environment, therefore, has been a contentious one, however people continue to submerge idols undaunted.
\nWhat\u2019s equally disturbing is that during Chhath Puja (a festival that worships the Hindu sun god, Surya), scores of devotees unflinchingly immerse themselves waist-deep into the waters of the Yamuna. Holy bathing in a natural water body (along with fasting and abstaining oneself from drinking water) is among the many rituals performed during the festival. Of late, concerns relating to the rising levels of polluted particles in the Yamuna have made international news. Dipping into the polluted waters is like extending an open invitation to an array of diseases from skin and eye infections to even cancer in extreme cases. Regardless of the health concerns though, worshippers in the Capital continue to make a beeline towards the various Yamuna ghats \u2013 some specially constructed for Chhath \u2013 to show their undying devotion to the Sun god.
\nhttp:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/trending\/voice\/in-the-name-of-god-and-devotion-is-it-really-worth-taking-a-dip-in-toxic-yamuna-4364726\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Chhath Puja: Water and Air Pollution<\/h1>\n
\nAs the festival season came to an end on Friday with Chhath Puja, DNA visited the Kalindi Kunj Yamuna ghat to see the level of pollution caused by the devotees there. Apart from the usual chemical froth layer on the water of the Yamuna, there is now all kinds of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste lying on the ghats, including garlands, idols and frames of deities, plastic wrappers\/bottles (containing oil), idols, diyas and cloth, among other things.
\nhttp:\/\/www.dnaindia.com\/delhi\/report-despite-barricades-on-ghats-yamuna-left-a-polluted-mess-after-chhath-puja-2556098<\/a>
\nYamuna river: Sea of froth welcomes devotees on Chhath Puja<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/indianexpress.com\/photos\/picture-gallery-others\/chhath-puja-yamuna-river-bank-pollution-4363633\/4\/<\/a>
\nChhath Puja 2017: Devotees Add to Yamuna\u2019s Troubles in Delhi<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.thequint.com\/videos\/news-videos\/after-chhath-puja-yamuna-river-pollution-waste<\/a>
\nCrackers burst during Chhath puja despite toxic air<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/gurgaon\/crackers-burst-during-chhath-puja-despite-toxic-air\/story-zItf2LO8kwUrCWz85J1dZM.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Kali Puja: Air and Water Pollution<\/h1>\n
\nthe WBPCB committee observed that the bursting of firecrackers during Kali Puja raised the ambient noise level compared to usual times.
\nhttp:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/cities\/kolkata\/pollution-control-board-limits-noise-level-of-crackers\/article7863090.ece<\/a><\/p>\n
\nWith more than 2,500 idols being immersed till Saturday, the river has been left infested with oil and grease, suspended solids and lead far beyond the permissible limits. But the pollution level was still lower than last year, thanks to incessant showers that have washed away the harmful chemicals to a large extent.
\nThe average lead content across the four ghats was 0.12 mg\/litre, which is far higher than the permissible count of 0.01 mg\/litre. “This is the most harmful aspect of pollution. Lead remains in water and affects the plants and animals. It returns to the environment through the aquatic plants and animals,” said Bhattacharya.
\nDissolved oxygen count, too, plunged to 2.7 mg\/litre, lower than the permissible limit of 5 mg\/litre. It could drop further once more idols are immersed on Sunday. “The largest chunk of idols is yet to be immersed so the water quality will continue to take a beating. It could be far worse in the course of the week,” said Bhattacharya.
\nThe post-Kali Puja period is the worst for the river, according to environmentalists. “The number of idols immersed is more than double that of Durga. More harmful chemicals are used in Kali idols, which gets dissolved in water. More importantly, there is hardly any effort to check the pollutants, unlike the Durga Puja immersions,” said a green activist.
\nhttps:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/kolkata\/immersion-after-effect-idols-raise-hooghly-water-toxicity\/articleshow\/61167151.cms<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Diwali: Air and Noise Pollution<\/h1>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/vedkabhed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/img_5f22bc9e890be.png\")
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\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span>
\nGo through all the links which provides more information, I have copied only few passages.
\nDiwali Fallout: 15% Rise in Heart & Lung Disease Patients at AIIMS
\nhttps:\/\/www.thequint.com\/fit\/health-news\/diwali-2017-more-heart-lung-patients-less-burn-injuries<\/a>
\nWhy bursting a cracker is equal to lighting 500 cigarettes at once<\/strong>
\nPune-based Chest Research Foundation (CRF) reported that burning of fire-crackers during the Diwali festival in a residential society of Pune produced very high levels of gaseous air pollutants
\nIn a study conducted in November 2016 by CRF, along with Dr Rohan Shah and Dhammasagar Ujagare, postgraduate students of Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences from University of Pune, proved that the snake tablet, burnt for only nine seconds, produced the highest peak of PM 2.5 (64,500\u00b5g\/m\u00b3)\u2013the equivalent of smoke generated from 500 cigarettes and the \u2018laad\u2019, which burnt for 48 seconds, produced high PM 2.5 levels of 38,540 \u00b5g\/m\u00b3, equivalent to particulate matter emitted by 300 cigarettes.The snake, laad and pul-pul were the top three PM 2.5 producers, while the anar produced the lowest amount of PM 2.5. The anar produced the lowest levels because the smoke was measured at a height of 3 ft and a distance of 6 ft or because it had a better combustion rate, the researchers inferred.
\nPM 2.5 are very tiny particles (less than 2.5 microns in diameter). Because of its fineness, they are more dangerous. They have the ability to accumulate in human organs and blood and the ability to reach the deeper portions of the lung, damaging it.
\nDr Sneha Limaye, senior scientist from CRF who supervised the study, said that,\u201cif people ask us which are the most harmful fireworks in terms of PM 2.5 air pollution, then we can advise people to avoid burning these fire crackers. Children, in particular, burn the fulzhadi, pulpul and the snake tablet barely a foot or two away from them and in doing so, inhale a large number of smoke particles that reach deeper into their lungs.The levels of PM 2.5 were measured only when an individual firecracker was burnt, but in real terms, many people burn many firecrackers together, which means the cumulative levels of PM 2.5 could reach \u2018extremely high levels\u2019. \u201d
\nhttp:\/\/www.hindustantimes.com\/pune-news\/why-bursting-a-cracker-is-equal-to-lighting-500-cigarettes-at-once\/story-zSqFpTjnUGqneFBreAgFUI.html<\/a>
\n2016\u00a0Delhi pollution: Choking citizens lament burning firecrackers this Diwali<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe responsibility falls on us, we should have reduced fire-works during this Diwali and instead we should have lit lamps,\u201d a local said.
\nhttp:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/cities\/delhi\/delhi-pollution-choking-citizens-lament-burning-firecrackers-this-diwali-3741129\/<\/a>
\nAir Pollution in New Delhi Gets Dangerously High During Diwali Celebrations<\/strong>
\nThe level of particulate matter in the air was more than double that of last year
\nhttp:\/\/blogs.wsj.com\/indiarealtime\/2016\/11\/01\/air-pollution-in-new-delhi-gets-dangerously-high-during-diwali-celebrations\/<\/a>
\nDiwali: Delhi pollution ‘hits hazardous levels’<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-india-34795305<\/a>
\nPollution soared to hazardous levels in Delhi on the night of Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, reaching 40 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organisation, reports say.
\nOn Diwali night, India gasped for breath
\n<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/data\/pollution-on-diwali-night\/article7872344.ece<\/a>
\n“Twenty of 26 air quality monitoring stations across the country recorded “severe” air quality at midnight on Wednesday night, a level of pollution that India officially rates as its worst possible, and describes as one that “affects even healthy people, and seriously impacts those with existing diseases”.
\n“On Wednesday night, which was Diwali night, air quality deteriorated across the eight states for which data is available through the Central Pollution Control Board’s National Air Quality Index monitoring portal. Looking at PM2.5 levels – the hourly concentration of very fine particles up to 2.5 microgrammes in diameter which can severely affect respiratory functioning – alone, The Hindu found that even cities with relatively better air quality saw a dip on Wednesday night. Both the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, and the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi confirmed that firecrackers had contributed to the worse air quality.”
\nAir pollution on Diwali getting worse<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/delhi\/Air-pollution-on-Diwali-getting-worse\/articleshow\/44864005.cms<\/a>
\n“An analysis of levels of various pollutants on Diwali day since 2010 reveals a disturbing trend. Levels of some pollutants, including sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), seem to be on the rise.
\nThe levels of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 (particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres), which have serious health implications as these tend to get lodged in the lung and can even enter the bloodstream, have been seven to eight times higher than the standard level for several years.
\nPM 2.5 is associated with a number of health impacts such as asthma, bronchitis, chronic respiratory symptoms including, shortness of breath and painful breathing, and premature deaths. High SO2 levels are also linked with inflammation of airways and severe breathing difficulty.”
\nDiwali firecrackers push up pollution level across the country<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.news18.com\/news\/india\/diwali-firecrackers-push-up-pollution-level-across-the-country-1163607.html<\/a>
\n“According to the National Air Quality Index provided by the Central Pollution Control Board in ten cities, the prominent pollutant PM 2.5 was hovering between 200 and 500 in cities like Muzaffarpur, Lucknow, Faridabad, Kanpur and Agra.”
\n“The air quality was rated as ‘severe’ in Lucknow and Muzaffarpur and ‘very poor’ in Agra, Kanpur, Pune, Patna and Faridabad. Hyderabad and Chandrapur in Maharashtra recorded ‘poor’ air quality.”
\n“Toxic fume from cracker worsen the killer particles in the air that have already increased by 5 to 7 times than the safe standards. It also deposit deadly chemicals in our environment that will remain trapped for days,” the Centre for Science and Environment said.
\n“It said, since 2010, average Diwali pollution levels have shown very rapid build-up at least seven to eight times, but peak levels have hit ten times the standard.”
\n“This leads to very high exposure that harm health of not only those who suffer from respiratory and cardiac problems but even that of the normal healthy people,” the CSE said.
\nAir pollution to be at its peak during Diwali: Met department<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/zeenews.india.com\/news\/eco-news\/air-pollution-to-be-at-its-peak-during-diwali-met-department_1820556.html<\/a>
\n“According to\u00a0NDTV,\u00a0SAFAR’s\u00a0Project In-charge,\u00a0Gurfan\u00a0Beig, said, “Winter is now set and temperature during\u00a0Diwali-2015\u00a0is going to be colder as compared to last year’s\u00a0Diwali-2014\u00a0which was in October. There is enough moisture in the air and atmospheric holding capacity is quite high for particles emitting from firecrackers. In all likelihood, air quality during\u00a0Diwali\u00a02015 is going to be inferior to that of\u00a0Diwali\u00a02014 owing to cooler temperature and downward shift of inversion layer.”
\nRecords show levels of air, noise pollution exceed permissible limits on Diwali<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.tribuneindia.com\/news\/chandigarh\/community\/records-show-levels-of-air-noise-pollution-exceed-permissible-limits-on-diwali\/156786.html<\/a>
\nDiwali pollution count in Kolkata 10 times normal limit<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/kolkata\/Diwali-pollution-count-in-Kolkata-10-times-normal-limit\/articleshow\/55171312.cms<\/a><\/p>\n
\nData collected from two Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) locations of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in the city shows a surge in the amount of PM10 (particulate matter with particles less than 10 micrometre), which is associated with allergies and other complications.
\nSample this. In 2015, the PM10 level at CAAQM City Railway Station was 117 micrograms\/cubic metre. This year, however, it was 126 micrograms\/cubic metre.
\nThough KSPCB is yet to compile the final data from all its 13 centres, preliminary analysis of data from the two CAAQM centres shows that pollution during this Diwali was more compared to last year. However, it was lower than the levels recorded in 2014.
\nCompared to normal days, there was an increase in the amount of pollutants measured by the agency. Though there was a decrease in the number of vehicles on the road during the holidays, it did not translate to any significant decrease in pollution. According to sources in Bengaluru Traffic Police, the city traffic volume dipped by 40-50 per cent in the past four- five days.
\nhttp:\/\/www.newindianexpress.com\/cities\/bengaluru\/2016\/nov\/02\/increased-pollution-during-diwali-causes-breathing-problems-in-bengaluru-1533993–1.html<\/a>
\nMORE LINKS<\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/www.indiaparenting.com\/indianculture\/festivals\/diwali\/diwali001.shtml<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2015\/nov\/11\/delhi-warns-against-diwali-fireworks-to-safeguard-air-quality<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/thewire.in\/15669\/diwali-was-worse-this-year-for-delhi-than-in-2014\/<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.in\/2015\/11\/13\/delhi-air-pollution-diwal_n_8551036.html<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Dushera: Air and Noise Pollution<\/h1>\n
Gurgaon India\u2019s most polluted city on Sunday<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAccording to Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) officials, a decline in wind speed and the burning of crackers during Dussehra celebrations led to an increase in the air pollution levels.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nExperts blamed effigy burning on Dussehra, coupled with stubble burning by farmers, for the increase. “Despite Sunday being a non-working day, the city reported the highest levels of air pollution in the country. It is evident that vehicular pollution is not the only source of air pollution in the city. It is clearly a result of Dussehra celebrations. Also, stubble burning is a major contributing factor,” said Niranjan Raje, former member of Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\nhttp:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/gurgaon\/gurgaon-indias-most-polluted-city-on-sunday\/articleshow\/60905613.cms<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nDussehra rally too loud, complains activist in Mumbai
\nhttp:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/mumbai\/dussehra-rally-too-loud-complains-activist-in-mumbai\/articleshow\/60896310.cms<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nYou’ll be ok, just don’t breath! After Dussehra fireworks Delhi doctors report a sudden rise in cases of respiratory illness<\/strong><\/div>\nOn Wednesday the air quality index (AQI) in Anand Vihar was recorded at 369 – which is considered to be hazardous
\nPeople have been advised to cover their faces while walking; asthmatic patients must carry an inhaler
\nhttp:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/indiahome\/indianews\/article-3835206\/You-ll-ok-just-don-t-breath-Dussehra-fireworks-Delhi-doctors-report-sudden-rise-cases-respiratory-illness.html#ixzz4uLScTW5z<\/div>\n
\nGURGAON: The ritual of marking the victory of good over evil \u2014 burning Ravana effigies \u2014 had quite the opposite effect on air quality in Delhi-NCR, with the national capital, Gurgaon and Faridabad among the five most polluted cities in the country on Dussehra, according to data on 25 cities released by the Central Pollution Control Board.
\nhttp:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/city\/gurgaon\/In-air-quality-victory-of-evil-over-good\/articleshow\/54820103.cms<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>Navratri: Noise pollution and water pollution<\/h1>\n