Physical Address
23,24,25 & 26, 2nd Floor, Software Technology Park India, Opp: Garware Stadium,MIDC, Chikalthana, Aurangabad, Maharashtra – 431001 India
The beats of the dhak have faded, the pandals are coming down, and the immersion of Maa Durga’s idols has brought this year’s Durga Puja festivities to a close. As Bengal returns to its everyday rhythm, the familiar promise of “Asche bochor abar hobe” carries a deeper question: can the spirit of celebration leave behind a greener legacy too?
In West Bengal, Durga Puja is far more than a religious festival. It represents Bengali identity, artistic expression and community participation. Yet, the grandeur of the celebrations also generates enormous quantities of waste, consumes energy and puts pressure on public spaces and water bodies. Encouragingly, Bengal’s green Puja initiatives are demonstrating that environmental responsibility can become an integral part of the festivities without taking away their charm.
When pandals become a message
Kolkata’s pandals are celebrated for their creativity, craftsmanship and elaborate themes. Increasingly, environmental awareness is becoming another dimension of this artistic expression.
The Shashya-er Shakti initiative, inspired by the symbolism of paddy and Bengal’s agricultural traditions, offers an example of how familiar cultural elements can communicate environmental messages. Its paddy-grain Durga idol and the Dhannyo Kalash campaign, encouraging people to contribute a fistful of rice, connected sustainability with nourishment, tradition and collective participation. Such initiatives show that environmental awareness need not rely on technical messaging alone. When it is woven into familiar cultural symbols, people can connect with it more naturally.
Another striking example comes from Dhansar in Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district, where an eco-friendly Durga Puja pandal made using approximately one lakh plants attracted large crowds. Although outside Bengal, the installation offers an inspiring lesson for its puja organisers: a pandal can be remembered not only for its visual appeal but also for the environmental message it communicates.
Waste management takes centre stage
One of the most significant developments in Bengal’s green Puja movement is the growing emphasis on what happens behind the scenes.
On October 8, the West Bengal government announced the Green Durga Puja Excellence Awards 2026, placing waste segregation, sustainable materials and environmental awareness at the heart of the competition. Organised through the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA), the awards recognise four categories: Best Green Puja, Best Clean and Waste-Smart Puja, Best Awareness Initiative, and Community Engagement Award. The assessment considers environmentally friendly pandal and idol materials, energy-efficient lighting, scientific waste collection, cleanliness and responsible immersion practices. Campaigns promoting water conservation and reducing plastic pollution also receive recognition.
This is an important shift. A green Puja cannot be judged by its decorations alone. Kolkata’s crowded streets and popular pandals generate food leftovers, disposable packaging, flowers and other waste throughout the festive period. Separate collection bins, waste segregation at source, composting of suitable organic waste and recycling partnerships can help prevent these materials from ending up in mixed-waste dumps. By recognising committees that adopt such practices, the state can encourage environmental responsibility to become a regular part of Puja planning rather than a symbolic gesture.
The responsibility does not end with visarjan
For Bengal, immersion is an emotional and deeply rooted ritual, symbolising the goddess’s departure and the promise of her return. Making it environmentally responsible does not mean changing the sentiment behind the tradition; it means managing its consequences carefully.
Natural clay idols, non-toxic colours, designated immersion facilities and timely removal of residual materials can help reduce pollution in water bodies, including the Hooghly. Recovering bamboo, cloth and reusable decorations from dismantled pandals can further reduce waste.
The next step is consistency. Environmental practices must extend beyond a few prominent pandals to neighbourhood committees across Kolkata and other districts. Progress should be measured through tangible outcomes: waste segregated, materials recovered, plastic avoided and immersion sites cleaned.
A greener Bengal, one Puja at a time
Durga Puja celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Protecting Bengal’s rivers, neighbourhoods and natural surroundings is another collective responsibility that deserves the same commitment. This year’s green initiatives show that tradition and sustainability can strengthen one another. As the festivities conclude, their success should be measured not only by the beauty of the pandals or the enthusiasm of the crowds, but also by the environmental footprint left behind.
When Maa Durga returns next year, the aspiration should be for greener pandals, cleaner paras and more responsible immersion practices. Because the spirit of Puja should not end with visarjan; it should continue in the way Bengal cares for its people, its heritage and its environment.
References:
https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/durga-puja-in-kolkata-00703
Banner Image: AI generated
Sections of this article may have been developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to support research, drafting, and language refinement. All information has been reviewed, edited, and verified by the author/editor to ensure accuracy, context, and editorial integrity. The responsibility for the final content, interpretations, and conclusions rests solely with the publisher.
