OBJECTIVES:

 To assess the existing air quality.

 To assess the extent of pollution of water bodies due to developmental activities.
 To assess the quality of soil and extent of soil pollution and soil degradation.
 To assess the extent of noise pollution.
 To assess the quantities and types of solid wastes generated, assess the efficacy of
present disposal method and to propose suitable methods of disposal.
 To assess the amounts of sewerage generated and its quality.
 To assess the efficiency of existing sewage system and propose sewage treatment
facilities.
 To assess the existing biotic components (flora and fauna).

REASONS: Here problem is pollution, not the festivals. So it would be prudent not to think of banning
festivals, instead we need to find out how we can stop pollution from festivities like introduction of
Eco-Friendly Ganpati; No use of china made plastic strings in Makarsakranti, etc and also, only
finding out the remedy won't do, it should be implemented strictly. In this way we can celebrate our
festivals without causing any pollution.

METHODOLOGY:

The methodology could both be quantitative and qualitative. In qualitative you just have
to provide enough facts that contribute to your topic. In quantitative, you can choose
different pollution checking devices and can measure an emission of polluted gases in
air due to festivals. Methods are divided into general and detailed, quantitative
and qualitative, and field and laboratory methods. Another part of the second
section of this chapter is devoted to a detailed description of the main types of
research methods used in the analysis of festivals. Using numerous examples,
quantitative and qualitative, and field and laboratory methods used for studying
this phenomenon are characterized.

EXPLANATION:

Some of the festivals nowadays have become special days/events of adding to the already
deteriorating condition of the environment. Like Diwali celebration adds up to air and noise
pollution enormously. Similarly, the 'Visarjan' festivals add up to water pollution greatly.
Moreover, by killing innocent animals on the name of sacrifice be it in any religion, we are
affecting the ecological balance by disturbing the Biodiversity. There are many other
instances as well.
However, knowing that the environment should be clean, healthy and non-polluted, the larg
e scale celebration of various festivals have degraded the quality of the 
Environment and the various festivals are-
DIWALI:
Unfortunately, every year, the quantum of air and noise pollution caused due to the bursting of
firecrackers increases on Diwali. Firecrackers release pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide etc in the air, which causes ailments like asthma and bronchitis. Not only
the elderly and patients in hospitals, but animals and birds are also affected due to air and noise
pollution.Though various schools and organisations organised demonstrations prior to Diwali to
educate the masses on a pollution-free festival, their efforts have been futile.The environment and
pollution departments also got notices published in various newspapers about regulations to curb
noise and air pollution, but to no avail.As per directions of the Supreme Court, bursting of sound-
emitting firecrackers has been banned between 10pm to 6am. However, shockingly, the direction
was openly flouted as firecrackers were burst throughout the night.This caused excessive noise and
air pollution. On the receiving end of this menace were the elderly and patients in hospitals.

GANESH CHATURTHI:

Widespread campaigns are already on for an eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi festival but still a large
section of the society are unaware of the pollution and environmental damage caused by Plaster of
Paris idols and chemical paints. Some large Ganesha Pandal committees, to attract maximum crowd
conveniently forget the environmental impact caused by the idols. The main pollution is caused by
the Plaster of Paris Ganesh idols and the chemical paints used in them.
Plaster of Paris (POP) is not a naturally occurring material and contains gypsum, sulphur,
phosphorus and magnesium. The idols take several months to dissolve in water and in the process
poison the waters of lake, ponds, rives and seas.
The chemical paints used to decorate the Ganesh idol contain mercury, lead, cadmium and carbon
and this increases the acidity and heavy metal content in the water. 
Several accessories used during the Ganesh Puja like Thermocole, plastic flowers, cloth, incense,
camphor and numerous other materials are dumped carelessly adding more strain to the already
polluted rivers and lakes. 
Careless dumping of Ganesh idols in waterbodies blocks the natural flow of water. This results in
stagnation and breeding of mosquitoes and other harmful pests.
The polluted water causes several diseases including skin diseases. 
The pollution from Ganesh Chaturthi idols also damages the ecosystem, kills fishes and water
plants.

Alternatives
Use eco-friendly clay idols painted with natural colors.
Use permanent idols made of stone and perform a symbolic immersion and reuse the idol each year.
Avoid public waterbodies to immerse the idols, instead immerse idol in bucket or tub.

HOLI FESTIVAL:Holi is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. ‘Holi’ is also known as
festival of colors. It is primarily observed in India and Nepal. An alleged environmental issue related
to the celebration of Holi is the traditional Holika bonfire, which is believed to contribute to
deforestation. Activists estimate Holika causes 30,000 bonfires every year, with each one burning
approximately 100 kilograms of wood.This represents less than 0.0001% of 350 million tons of wood
India consumes every year, as one of the traditional fuels for cooking and other uses.
DURGA PUJA:

In the contemporary era, brighter colored statues have increased and diversified the use of non-
biodegradable, cheaper or more colorful substitute synthetic raw materials. Environmental activists
have raised concerns about the paint used to produce the statue, stating that the heavy metals in
these paints pollute rivers when the statues are immersed at the end of the Durga festival.Brighter
colors that are also biodegradable and eco-friendly, as well as the historic tradition-based natural
colors are typically more expensive. The state of West Bengal has banned the use of hazardous
paints, and local Indian governments have started distributing lead-free paints to artisans at no cost
to prevent heavy metal pollution.

SUMMARY:
The environment and pollution departments also got notices published in various newspapers about
regulations to curb noise and air pollution, but to no avail.As per directions of the Supreme Court,
bursting of sound-emitting firecrackers has been banned between 10pm to 6am. However,
shockingly, the direction was openly flouted as firecrackers were burst throughout the night.This
caused excessive noise and air pollution. On the receiving end of this menace were the elderly and
patients in hospitals.

The chemical paints used to decorate the Ganesh idol contain mercury, lead, cadmium and carbon
and this increases the acidity and heavy metal content in the water. 
Several accessories used during the Ganesh Puja like Thermocole, plastic flowers, cloth, incense,
camphor and numerous other materials are dumped carelessly adding more strain to the already
polluted rivers and lakes. 
Careless dumping of Ganesh idols in waterbodies blocks the natural flow of water. This results in
stagnation and breeding of mosquitoes and other harmful pests.
The polluted water causes several diseases including skin diseases. 
The pollution from Ganesh Chaturthi idols also damages the ecosystem, kills fishes and water
plants.

The use of heavy metal-based pigments during Holi is also reported to cause
temporary wastewater pollution, with the water systems recovering to pre-festival levels within 5
days.

The immersion of Durga Statutes during the Durga pooja is also a cause of concern forenvironm
entalists. In Orissa alone 5,000 Durga pooja idols are made, most of them using harmfulpaints.

CONCLUSION:

The current scenario of the world is that due to excessive & over-exploited use of resources we are in
a situation of worst pollution conditions. We are facing problems due to pollution in every field be it
Air, Water, Noise or any other. Therefore, we should first analyze the bad effects of our 'actions' in
celebrating the festivals so that we may avoid unnecessary and hazardous practices that adversely
affect the environment. The festivals can be celebrated in alternate ways as well. We should carefully
choose our actions so that we may be able to provide a 'livable' planet 'Earth' to our future
generations.

Diwali is being blamed for air pollution by people who care about environment.Similarly Holi blamed for
water pollution.It is we for our enjoyment have put all blames on festival.We changed the traditional way
of celebrating festival.Looking back into history Diwali was never celebrated by burning crackers and Holi
was never celebrated by wasting a lot of water.Traditional way was simple.People at that time was
concerned about environment and they made the environment sick.So if we have to improve the
environment health we should start following traditional way of celebrating festival and todays
environment bad health will recover soon and this implies on festival.