Kumbh Mela and environmental issues

Religion and festivals are an integral part of Indian. It is the soul of Indian diversity. Above cast and creed celebrations, rituals and customs give an identity to Indian people. The UNESCO listed mega festival Kumbh Mela is one among them which bring together crores of devotees in the historical sites of Uttar Pradesh. There are three types of Kumbh Mela, the Arth Kumba Mela occur in every sixth year which is at Haridwar and Allahabad, the Purna Kumbha Mela occur in every 12^th  year in Ujjain and Nasik and the Mega event Maha Kumbh Mela occur in every 144^th  year which is in Allahabad. Allahabad or Prayag is the place where Ganga and Yamuna meet. The river Ganga and Saraswathi are the main point of devotes who offer their prayers and rituals.

Religion is a virtue but make vice in certain occasions. This is evident from different religious practices. Albeit Ganga and Yamuna and different rivers are polluted by industrial effluents, these festivals too affect the pristinely and prestige of rivers. This year Municipal Corporation and government authorities planned meticulously before the Mela by installing waste bins, incinerators, developing amenity centers and equipping solid waste treatment plants things went off well a half but turned to a menace.  It is apparent that, managing millions of people is an unaffordable task for any event organizers. Any how the effort of authorities was laudable they did the best within their limitations.   

The post Mela efforts is a challenging task for authorities that include cleaning the premises, removing wrecks and debris, reinstating the ordinary situation etc. Back to the ordinary life is not an easy assignment for event organizers. But who cares about the long lasting damage it causes to the water sources. It remains as a question as unresolved, and should explore to find out a solution. Let’s hope authorities will more vigilant while time moves by striving to reduce negative environmental impacts and bad repercussions. Whilst considering the pollution crates by industrialist, it’s in a negligible amount and non toxic which is not going to create any irrevocable damage. 

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Brief on Kumbh Mela

Its a ritual if Hindu devotes to bathe in a sacred river Ganga and Yamuna. As the largest gathering in the world, Kumbh Mela sees around100 million people every time. It is held every third year at one of the four places by rotation: Haridwar, Allahabad(Prayag), Nasik and Ujjain. Thus the Kumbh Mela in every twelfth year in all places, Ardh ("Half") Kumbh Mela at only two places, Haridwar and Allahabad, every sixth year. The rivers are Ganga at Haridwar, the confluence (Sangam) of the Ganges and the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Allahabad, the Godawari at Nashik, and the Shipra at Ujjain.

 

Paul V Mathew