Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 14 (PTI) Cutting across religiouslines, major festivals in Kerala are going eco-friendly asthe state government is strictly implementing its greenprotocol policy.
The upcoming Maramon Convention, considered to be thelargest Christian convention in Asia, Attukal Pongala festivalhere, in which lakhs of women devotees participate, and thetraditional Uroos at Beemapally near here are among the majorfestivals to be held according to the green protocol.
If everything goes as per plan, the Thrissur Pooram,known as the mother of all festivals in Kerala, will also gogreen, official sources said.
The Suchitwa Mission, the state nodal agency forsanitation, has already started discussions with religiousheads and peoples' representatives to make the festivals eco-friendly.
The green protocol was adopted in the recently concludedSivagiri pilgrimage, Parumala Church fest, SabarimalaMakaravilakku festival and Malayattoor pilgrimage under theaegis of the mission.
As part of the initiative, awareness drives would becarried out among devotees and representatives of religiousinstitutions on the need for avoiding plastic items duringfestivities, Suchitwa Mission officials said.
The use of eco-friendly utensils would be promoted inplace of disposable ones which lead to accumulation of pilesof non-degradable waste after major festivals.
Devotees would be urged to bring cloth bags instead ofplastic ones, they said.
"Piles of non-degradable waste and food waste had been amajor concern during the festivals in the state," SuchitwaMission Director (Operations), C V Joy told PTI.
"Our objective is to reduce piles of garbage bysensitising devotees and promoting green practices amongthem," he said.
The mission has already begun its elaborate preparationsfor the Pongala festival, which is known for the massparticipation of women devotees, falling on March 2 this year.
To keep disposable plates and glasses at bay, themission will soon open counters at various points around theAttukal Devi Temple to collect reusable and washable utensils.
Interested people or outfits can donate such utensils atthe counters, which would be used to serve food and water fordevotees during the Pongala, when lakhs of women, includingforeigners, converge in the city to prepare 'Nivediyam', asweet offering for the Almighty.
Such eco-friendly utensils would be collected with thehelp of sponsors as well, the mission officials said.
Welfare organisations, which distribute free food duringthe festival day, have been asked to avoid doing so inpackets.
Volunteers would be trained and deployed to collectdisposable water bottles, abandoned by devotees and counterswould be set up with the support of various non-governmentalorganisations to provide eco-friendly carry bags.
With the support of the state water authority, kiosksand water tankers would be made available to reduce use ofbottled water, they said.
Ameershah, programme officer, Suchitwa Mission, said thegreen protocol is implemented during festivals aftermulti-level discussions.
"We used to begin preparations at least one or two monthsbefore the commencement of each festival. We hold discussionswith the ministers concerned, mayors, people representatives,local leaders and religious heads," he told PTI.
"Later, we convey the message about the various greenprotocol steps to be adopted during the festivals throughmedia, including FM radio," he said.
The official said the religious institutions were verycooperative for the initiative as disposal of waste is a majorconcern after every festival.
Detailing the "green" steps to be taken during Uroosfestival, which begins on February 17, he said a preliminarydiscussion with the mosque committee was held last week.
During the Uroos fest, the mosque as well as voluntaryorganisations serve food to devotees. Besides this, severalgroups set up stalls and counters in the premises of themosque offering eatables, he added.
The stalls would be given permission to operate only ifthey give in writing that they would adhere to greenprotocols, Ameershah said.
"Only washable and reusable utensils will be used toserve food there. Use of plastic will not be allowed. Ifanyone violates this, the particular stall will be removed andpenalty imposed," the official added.
The Suchitwa Mission began implementation of greenprotocols in various events after its success in the 2015National Games, hosted by the southern state. PTI LGK SSAAR.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.