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Festive Farewell: Lucknow pandals gear up for eco-friendly ‘visarjan’ after 10 days of festivities
In an effort to prevent Gomti River pollution, the LMC has dug four 10-foot-deep ditches at Jhulelal Park and filled them with water.
LUCKNOW Following ten days of festivities, city pandals in Lucknow are gearing up for an eco-friendly ‘visarjan’ to bid adieu to Durga Maa, marking the culmination of Durga Puja celebrations. The Nagar Nigam has strategically designated 22 locations to facilitate the immersion of idols, a move aimed at preventing pollution of the Gomti River.
Sumit Bhowmick, the president of Bal Shashwat Foundation in Vikas Nagar, explained that their idols are transported to Jhulelal Park for ‘visarjan.’ He emphasised that they, like many others, adhere to the Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s (LMC) designated immersion spots.
Bhowmick also highlighted the necessity of these arrangements, given the large number of idols discarded after the pujas, particularly during Durga Puja when each pandal features five idols. Taking into account the numerous pandals and unregistered small pujas, the total number of idols being immersed runs into several thousands. Somnath Mukherjee, the president of the Sahara Estate Durga Puja Committee, echoed these sentiments.
In an effort to prevent Gomti River pollution, the LMC has dug four 10-foot-deep ditches at Jhulelal Park and filled them with water. In addition, adjacent ditches have been excavated for the disposal of idol remains following immersion. To facilitate this process, hydra machines and cranes are deployed at these locations to transfer the idols from one ditch to another. When one ditch becomes filled with idol parts, another is dug, ensuring a continuous cycle. Prakash Singh, overseeing the proceedings at Jhulelal Park, detailed the process.
Around 40 LMC workers are engaged in these activities, with a police force present to maintain order at the immersion sites. Apart from Jhulelal Park, 21 additional locations are being prepared with temporary ponds and ditches to accommodate the numerous idols discarded on Dashami. These arrangements are being supervised by Municipal Commissioner Inderjeet Singh.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Bengali Club on Shivaji Marg has opted for in-house immersion within their club premises. Members have dug a hole within their premises to perform the immersion, ensuring a more respectful and dignified farewell to the Goddess. Arun Kumar Banerjee, the President of the Bengali Club, shared their commitment to preserving Goddess Durga’s crown each year and mounting it on their office wall after immersion.
[BOX 1: Sindoor Khela and Visarjan Timings]
La-Touche Road Puja Sangsad Society, Jogendrea Pathak Road: Sindur Khela at 9:28, Visarjan from 1 pm onwards.
Trans Gomti Durga Puja Committee, Aliganj: Dashami Puja at 9 am and Visarjan from 3 pm onwards.
Bengali Club, Shivaji Marg: Sobha Yatra/Idol Immersion from 12 pm onwards.
Bal Shashwat Durga Puja, Vikas Nagar: Sindur Khela at 11 am, Visarjan Yatra at 4 pm, and Shanti Jal at 9 pm.
Bondhu Mahal, Faizabad Road: Sindoor Khela at 10 am, Visarjan at 12 pm.
Sahara Estate: Sindoor Khela at 11 am, Visarjan at 3 pm.
Rabindra Pally Durga Puja: Sindoor Khela at 9:30 pm, Visarjan from 12 pm onwards.
Sarbojanin Durga Puja Samiti, Vidyant College: Activities commence at 8:00 am onwards.
[BOX 2: Traffic Diversions: Know Before You Go]
Effective from- 10.00 am on October 24 and 25
Roadways buses from Ayodhya to Kaiserbagh vehicles will be diverted from Kamta Tirahe towards Gomti Nagar, from where they will come to Kaiserbagh via CDRI from behind Samta Mulak, Godhi Setu, PNT, Sankalp Vatika, Chiraya Jheel, Clark Avadh.
Roadways/city buses coming to Kaiserbagh from Sitapur Road will go to Kaiserbagh via Madianv, Purnia/Daliganj Railway Crossing, Pakka Bridge, Shahmina, Daliganj Bridge, CDRI and in return will go via Balrampur Dhal, Shaheed Memorial as above.
General traffic coming from Chowk, Shahmina Tiraha, Daliganj Bridge, Kaiserbagh will not be able to go directly from Clark Avadh Tiraha via Subhash Square, rather it will go from Clark Avadh Tiraha via Chiraiyajheel, Saharaganj or Sankalp Vatika.
Traffic from Daliganj bridge Ikka tanga will be blocked toward Jhulelal park. Commuters can take Daliganj bridge or IT intersection.
Traffic near Telephone Exchange intersection towards Maqbara Road towards Parivartan Chowk will be banned.
Traffic coming from Nirala Nagar will not be able to go from IT intersection towards Subhash intersection via Vishwavidyalaya Marg, Hanuman Setu. This traffic will be able to turn left/right from the IT intersection and reach its destination via Nishatganj/Daliganj bridge via Samthar petrol pump.
Normal traffic will not be able to move from Hanuman Setu Nadwa Bandha Tirahe towards Nadwa Bandha Road Jhulelal Park. Rather, this traffic will be able to reach its destination via IT intersection.
Traffic from Hewett Road will not be able to go towards Bengali Club from Maharana Pratap intersection. Rather, this traffic will be able to reach its destination via Burlington Square or Bans Mandi Square.
