Faith and religious rituals cause a lot of environmental pollution throughout the world. In the Islamic festival of Bakrid, millions of animals are sacrificed throughout the world, in Islamic nations as well as those with the Muslim population, including India. The killing of innocent animals in such huge numbers is a serious threat to the ecological balance. Millions of liters of blood are left into drains, finding its way into the soil and water bodies. Likewise, crackers and plastic decorative items are a major part of Christmas and Deepawali celebrations. Crackers and fireworks are burned in huge numbers on Christmas in countries with Christian domination.
Long and Short Essay on Pollution due to Festivals
Essay 1 (300 words)
Water is an essential part of our lives. Since the beginning of civilization, we have seen that all human settlements are near water bodies because it is difficult to survive without water. But at the moment water pollution is one of the major environmental issues that we are facing. Humans have polluted every major water body and the marine life is also widely affected. In India, we celebrate a number of festivals where a lot of water is either wasted or polluted. The huge amount of toxins being immersed in water is one of the major concerns.
Water Pollution due to Festivals
A majority of Indian festivals include the use of water in one or the other way. This leads to pollution of water in almost every part of the country.
- Statues Immersion: There are festivals where decorated statues are taken out in the procession and immersed in water. The amount of toxins that this practice adds in our water bodies is very high. After these statues are immersed the water is contaminated and becomes unfit for usage. This water can contaminate crops if used for irrigation because of the mixing of chemicals in it.
- Holi: This festival includes playing with water and color but often the colors that are used are chemical and they cause serious health hazards. Not to forget the sheer wastage of water is also a major concern.
- Holy Bath: during some festivals, it is considered holy to bathe in rivers and seas. But when a large number of people do this together it adds a lot of unwanted substances in the water thereby polluting it.
Conclusion: It is a sad reality that none of our water bodies are clean and pure anymore. The marine life is dying day by day. It is not that we shouldn’t celebrate our festivals but if we do that sensibly we might be able to save our environment also.
Essay 2 (400 words)
India is a land of diversity and we take pride in it. Many festivals are celebrated in our country all year-round. We enjoy the festivities with the Great Spirit and fervor. The advantage of living in India is that you get to enjoy the traditions and festivals of different religions. There are festivals celebrating religion, gods, harvest, change in season, saints, gurus, etc. So many different flavors in one land but one thing is common in most of them is that they harm the environment substantially.
Impact of Festivals on Environment
Our environment has given us many precious gifts but in return, we have not given it anything rather we have robbed it, abused it and harmed it brutally. We celebrate our festivals with great vigor but we also pollute the environment majorly. There are all kinds of pollutions that happen during festivals like air, water, and noise. Basically we pollute all aspects of the environment during festivals.
- The most harmful effects of festivals on air can be seen around the festival of Diwali. Due to the burning of crackers, the air gets highly polluted it becomes choking. Not to forget that the amount of trash that keeps on lying around the nest day on roads. There are some other festivals also like Jayanti’s etc. where fireworks are seen. They also add to the pollution.
- Water is also getting highly polluted during many festivals. During holi the amount of water that is wasted is also alarming. It also poses a threat of harmful chemical colors that can pollute tank water. The main factor of water pollution is the festivals where idols are immersed in water that are made of toxic materials. They not only pollute the water bodies but also kill many fishes and aquatic animals.
- Garbage disposal is also a big issue during festivals. When a crowd gathers for precessions and cultural get together a lot of garbage is disposed on the roads etc. During many festivals, ‘Mela’ and fairs are organized which leads to a lot of garbage disposed of openly.
- Noise pollution is also one of the biggest environmental threats. Loudspeakers, Music on high volume and crowd noises during festivals can do some serious harm to us and the environment.
Conclusion: We can surely say that some of our biggest festivals pollute our environment. We ignore our natural surroundings in the vigor of celebrating festivals. It is true that without our culture and festivals our lives will be quite boring and unexciting but it is equally important to adopt some methods curb pollution during festivals. Our government should make rules where festivals can also be celebrated and the environment is also saved.
Essay 3 (500 words)
We live in one of the most exciting countries in the world and the reason for that is we have a diverse culture in India. So many religions are practiced in India and all of them have their unique flavor. The most important thing about all these religions is that we get to celebrate so many festivals. Each festival has its own uniqueness and ways of celebration.
Although festivals are an integral part of our culture and they bring happiness and joy in our lives but sadly they do a lot of harm to our environment also. Every festival is celebrated in a special way and has some of the other ways joined to it. It is these ways of celebration that cause such great harm to our natural resources. Every year the number of pollutants added in the environment keeps on increasing. There are all aspects of nature that are being affected by festivals.
Pollution Caused by Festivals
- Air Pollution: The Hindu festival of Diwali is the main cause of air pollution in the country as the Diwali days see lots and lots of fireworks all around the country. People burn crackers and sky shots all night long and this causes lots of air pollution. The next day is always choked and filled with smog. Fireworks are also seen during many other festivals that they are also the reason of air pollution levels increasing in the country. The air quality of the metropolitan cities is terrible now. Another reason for air pollution during festivals is the number of cars on the road. During festivals, it is customary to visit relatives and friends. In order to do that many people travel by their cars and automobiles. This causes a lot of air pollution by traffic.
- Water Pollution: The main cause of water pollution during festivals is the statue immersion and throwing various substances in water bodies to offer prayers. The statues that immersed in water as an offering to god pollute the water and also kill aquatic life. Other reasons for water pollution are people taking holy dips in rivers during festivals. When millions bathe on the rivers together they become dirty.
- Noise Pollution: The loud noises can harm hearing ability and can also cause serious physiological issues. The use of loudspeakers during festivals is one such reason. The frequencies at which the music or speeches are played out is dangerous. There are various processions taken out during the festival time that also cause a lot of noise pollution.
Conclusion: Festival is the time to rejoice and be happy. Festivals unite us and bring sovereignty in the people but it is also true that festivals also cause a lot of harm and pollution to the environment. As a citizen of the country, it is our duty to also protect our natural resources as they are our wealth. We must find ways in which festivals also celebrated and the environment is also conserved.
Essay 4 (600 words)
In India, every festival holds special importance in our lives. We may belong to any religion but we take pride in the fact that we celebrate all the festivals together. But it is also a sad reality that our festivals cause a lot of pollution of air, water, and noise.
Festivals are the time when everyone is happy and relaxed and the traditions are passed on from one generation to another. This is what keeps the culture alive. These festivals cause harm to us on many levels, the quality of air is compromised, the water bodies are contaminated, the marine life gets affected, the loud noises cause stress and the city gets filled with garbage and leftovers. The modernization has commercialized the festivals also and consumerism has taken over the true spirit. So let’s see what kind of pollution does festivals cause:
Bad Effects of Various Festivals on the Environment
- Diwali: Every year the figures released by the government regarding the pollution caused after the cracker bursting are alarming. The next day the air is choked and the city suffers. The amount of contaminators added in the air on Diwali every year is so high that the government has to ban the bursting of crackers every year.
- Holi: One of the biggest Hindu festivals that are celebrated by playing colors and water with everyone. Now that every festival has been commercialized holi is now nothing more than wastage of water, noise pollution and chemical and toxin attack. The natural colors are now replaced with chemical-based ones that also cause soil pollution.
- Ganesh Festival: Every year devotees immerse the Ganesh idol in rivers and seas as a way of celebrating to god. The statues of Lord Ganesh are made of various toxic materials and industrial colors. When they are immersed in water they contaminate the water bodies and also kill marine life.
- Durga Puja: Just like the Ganesh festival during Durga puja the idol of goddess Durga is immersed in water. This is a serious threat to our aquatic ecosystem. There are bright synthetic colors applied to these idols to make them look attractive. These colors make a coating on the water surface and prevent the oxygen to enter in it.
- Chatth Puja: Another big festival in north India where water bodies get polluted. Devotees gather in large numbers to offer prayers and this leaves the river banks in a bad state. The amount of garbage disposed of pollutes the river.
- Jayanti/Birthdays of Religious Leaders: There are a number of religions in India and every religion has a leader or the founder. On their birthdays ‘Satsang’ or prayer meetings are organized. The use of loudspeakers causes noise pollution.
- Dusshera: During the festival of Dussehra ‘melas’ or fairs are organized all around the country that causes noise pollution and garbage disposed on the roads. On the last day of this festival, the giant effigies are burned and this causes major air pollution.
Conclusion: It is true that our festivals are a reason for our great joy and happiness but they also pollute the environment. We cannot stop celebrating the festivals but some simple measures that can help to bring down the levels of pollution can surely be adopted. There has to be joined effort from both government and citizens to save the mother-nature. Rather than polluting nature, our festivals should be the reason for the beautification of the environment.