NGO Raksha: Recycling dumped idols to save the environment

Dwarka: It is a common sight to see disused idols of Gods and other leftover material used in religious rituals, dumped unceremoniously under peepal trees in any given neighbourhood. Besides the obvious religious side to the issue, there is an environmental side too. Raksha, an NGO, has been working to deal with this issue in an environmentally friendly way in Dwarka.

When it comes to our beliefs or faith, questions are seldom raised. But with air and water pollution becoming a huge threat to our existence, the environment cannot be ignored anymore. That is why Mangal Murti, the campaign being carried by Raksha becomes very important.

Read | Dwarka: Chhath celebration in pictures

Under the "Mangal Murti" campaign the members of the NGO collect the dumped idols and other religious material, some of which are toxic and very harmful to the environment.
After collecting these, the NGO takes them to Yamuna Ghat, near the Signature bridge. Here they get the idols remade or recycled into earthen pots or diyas, by a community of artisans staying there. While some of the material is converted in bricks by brick kiln units operating there.

Anjana Sinha, a member of Mangal murti program and General Secretary of Dwarkadheesh Apartments, sector 11, shared the need to extend such campaigns to more cities in India.
"We started this programme of recycling dumped idols in Dwarka sub-city in 2019. We want more volunteers to join us, and to take this effort to every province of the country so that we could make a huge difference in saving our environment.”

Ms Indu Rajput, National President of Raksha saviour says,”
Idol immersion in natural water bodies causes a huge loss to aquatic lives and therefore to our environment. That is why we have requested the Government to take necessary action against this by making a law of using only biodegradable material in the making of religious idols.”