Photos: Artificial ponds, litmus test for idol immersion in Delhi | Hindustan Times
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Photos: Artificial ponds, litmus test for idol immersion in Delhi

Updated On Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

The idols of goddess Durga were for the first time immersed in an artificial pond instead of the Yamuna. The idol immersion protocol was followed by more than 500 Durga Puja committees in Delhi on Tuesday. Together, they gave up a ritual where idols were taken to the Yamuna as part of a procession and immersed there. The protocol was decided by the Delhi government, which issued an order prohibiting immersion of idols in the Yamuna and directed Durga Puja committees to conduct immersions only in artificial ponds. The government order came after a two-member National Green Tribunal-appointed Yamuna pollution monitoring committee last month asked government to find alternatives to Yamuna immersions.

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Devotees immerse an idol of goddess Durga into an artificial pond at CR Park. The idols of goddess Durga were for the first time immersed in an artificial pond instead of the Yamuna. The idol immersion protocol was followed by more than 500 Durga Puja committees in the city on Tuesday. Together, they gave up a ritual where idols were taken to the Yamuna as part of a procession and immersed there. (Amal KS / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

Devotees immerse an idol of goddess Durga into an artificial pond at CR Park. The idols of goddess Durga were for the first time immersed in an artificial pond instead of the Yamuna. The idol immersion protocol was followed by more than 500 Durga Puja committees in the city on Tuesday. Together, they gave up a ritual where idols were taken to the Yamuna as part of a procession and immersed there. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

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An open pit made for Durga Puja idol immersion by Delhi Government, at Shiv Ghat, in Kalindi Kunj. The protocol was decided by the government, which issued an order prohibiting immersion of idols in the Yamuna and directed Puja committees to conduct immersions only in artificial ponds. The order came after a two-member National Green Tribunal-appointed Yamuna pollution monitoring committee last month asked government to find alternatives to Yamuna immersions. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

An open pit made for Durga Puja idol immersion by Delhi Government, at Shiv Ghat, in Kalindi Kunj. The protocol was decided by the government, which issued an order prohibiting immersion of idols in the Yamuna and directed Puja committees to conduct immersions only in artificial ponds. The order came after a two-member National Green Tribunal-appointed Yamuna pollution monitoring committee last month asked government to find alternatives to Yamuna immersions. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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An artificial pond is filled up with water brought in by Delhi Jal board vans to immerse idols of goddess Durga at CR Park. While the government said that most artificial pits were filled with drinking and potable water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board, several devotees raised concerns over hygiene. (Amal KS / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

An artificial pond is filled up with water brought in by Delhi Jal board vans to immerse idols of goddess Durga at CR Park. While the government said that most artificial pits were filled with drinking and potable water supplied by the Delhi Jal Board, several devotees raised concerns over hygiene. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

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While several committees created their own pits in near their puja venues, for others the Delhi government created as many as 116 artificial water bodies of different dimensions across the city. The government also scheduled timings for each committee in order to avoid potential traffic chaos and to ensure that workers deployed in the pits got adequate time to clear undissolved remains of idols between immersions. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

While several committees created their own pits in near their puja venues, for others the Delhi government created as many as 116 artificial water bodies of different dimensions across the city. The government also scheduled timings for each committee in order to avoid potential traffic chaos and to ensure that workers deployed in the pits got adequate time to clear undissolved remains of idols between immersions. (Burhaan Kinu / HT Photo)

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Devotees lift an idol of goddess Durga with the help of a crane, later to be immersed into an artificial pond at CR Park. “We were nervous about it because it is happening for the first time. At one point, where we were expecting nine Durga Puja committees to arrive and immerse their idols, 15 had turned up. We could accommodate all of them as we had made adequate arrangements,” said Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj. (Amal KS / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

Devotees lift an idol of goddess Durga with the help of a crane, later to be immersed into an artificial pond at CR Park. “We were nervous about it because it is happening for the first time. At one point, where we were expecting nine Durga Puja committees to arrive and immerse their idols, 15 had turned up. We could accommodate all of them as we had made adequate arrangements,” said Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj. (Amal KS / HT Photo)

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Police personnel are seen on duty during idol immersion at Todapur. Even the traffic situation this year was visibly better compared to previous ones, the police said. A senior Delhi Traffic Police official said, “There was a reduction in traffic snarls. The usual choke points such as Kalindi Kunj, ITO, Kashmere Gate and areas around Red Fort saw smooth traffic on Tuesday. Till evening, we did not get any major complaints of jams.” (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

Police personnel are seen on duty during idol immersion at Todapur. Even the traffic situation this year was visibly better compared to previous ones, the police said. A senior Delhi Traffic Police official said, “There was a reduction in traffic snarls. The usual choke points such as Kalindi Kunj, ITO, Kashmere Gate and areas around Red Fort saw smooth traffic on Tuesday. Till evening, we did not get any major complaints of jams.” (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Dozens of men and women playing with red vermilion and dancing to the beats of the dhak followed a truck loaded with the idols of Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kartik and Ganesh. In the next 20 minutes, the idols of the deities were immersed in the artificial pond. With their faces upwards, as if looking at the sky, the deities slowly float to the centre of the pond, only to be consumed by the water within seconds. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

Dozens of men and women playing with red vermilion and dancing to the beats of the dhak followed a truck loaded with the idols of Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Kartik and Ganesh. In the next 20 minutes, the idols of the deities were immersed in the artificial pond. With their faces upwards, as if looking at the sky, the deities slowly float to the centre of the pond, only to be consumed by the water within seconds. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Ankana Chowdhury, a devotee who had come to witness the immersion in C R Park’s iconic Durga Puja in Mela Ground, had mixed opinions. “For our elders, it is a matter of sentiment and that conflict will remain. However, it is necessary to save the environment for the younger generation. It was saddening to see idols go through filthy water and then in the Yamuna,” said Datta Roy, another C R Park resident. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Oct 09, 2019 12:40 PM IST

Ankana Chowdhury, a devotee who had come to witness the immersion in C R Park’s iconic Durga Puja in Mela Ground, had mixed opinions. “For our elders, it is a matter of sentiment and that conflict will remain. However, it is necessary to save the environment for the younger generation. It was saddening to see idols go through filthy water and then in the Yamuna,” said Datta Roy, another C R Park resident. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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