1 Environmental Policy and Vinayakar Chaturthi Festivals in Tamil Nadu: When Tradition Collides with Conservation Kathie M. Beasley Department of Social Science Dr. Ramesh Sivanpillai Department of Botany & WyGISC University of Wyoming Undergraduate Research Day – April 30, 2016
2 History of Vinayakar or Ganesh Chaturthi-Chaturthi or Festival -Birth of Lord Ganesh -Ceremony (pooja or puja) -Idols and dieties are made -Plants and Flowers as offerings -At the end, immersion in waterbodies Lord Ganesha is the main deity of this festival. The month of September brings a number of colourful festivals in the country. The month marked by the ten-day long magnificent and vibrant celebrations of Ganesh Chaturthi - the birth of Lord Ganesha gives glimpses of holy spirit of the Indian culture, according to the “Festival” link on India’s Government website (2016). As part of this festival, utmost adornment is placed upon Lord Ganesha, who is the remover of obstacles. Flowers,leaves and plants are quite elevated in India and are used heavily in this ritual. While worshipping, devotees take care to choose special flowers and leaves which have been weaved into tradition and culture as offerings and appeasements of the ceremony. Immersion into water bodies 21 different types of leaves are suggested for Ganesha Chaturthi Puja and popularly known as Patris Puja or Patra Puja. (http://www.drikpanchang.com/festivals/ganesh-chaturthi/info/ganesha-chaturthi-21-patra.html) Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
3 4 stages of Ganesh Chaturthi1. Pranapratishtha- The process of infusing the deity into a statue or idol. 2. Shhodashopachara- Paying tribute to Lord Ganesh with flowers and decoration. 3. Uttarpuja- Puja after which the deity could be shifted after its infusion. 4. Ganpati Visarjan - immersion of the deity into a body of water. Photo Credits 1: Wikimedia Commons 2: Getty Image Ibtimes.co.uk newspaper Photo Credits 1: Wikimedia Commons 2: Getty Image 3. 4. Ibtimes.co.uk newspaper
4 Photo Credit: Wikipedia CommonsHistorically … Up to a 1 foot, no elaborate painting or decorations, mostly private puja or puja at a temple Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons
5 … at Present Photo Courstey: 1. The Hindu newspaper2. ZeeNews India oline paper 3. India Times online The evolution of this festival has gone from private to public, with millions of followers partaking in the 10 day ceremony. The demand for more Ganesha deities has increased, and the size has also increased. The festival has increased. The adornments bigger and brighter with paints that often contain lead. According to Mark Ritchie, art professor at the University of Wyoming, there is very little documentation of the transition to using more readily available paints that contain lead. The demand for more colorful, and larger Ganesh idols is something that I address in my paper. One noticeable pattern is that the shift from natural materials to Paris of plaster, and to bright almost neon colors is prevalent in nearly all the celebrated festivals in India, including the Druga Festival, the Vishnu Festival. Photo Courstey: 1. The Hindu newspaper, 2 and 3. India Times online
6 bigger, brighter... Photos courtesy of: The Hindu newspaper
7 … massive processions Estimates fromPhotos courtesy of: The Hindu newspaper
8 Immersion Photo Courtesy: 1. By Srivatsan (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], 2. via Wikimedia Commons / 3. Photo Credit: Suriyan Sai Pattinapakkam, Ganesha is been thrown into sea on Ganesh Chathurthi. Wikimedia Commons Photo Courtesy: 1. By Srivatsan (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], 2.Wikimedia Commons by Suriyan Sai Pattinapakkam, Ganesha is been thrown into sea on Ganesh Chathurthi.
9 After the Celebration... Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons 3-4. Wikimedia Commons An unmeasured amount of debris is left behind. The scale is really so large that I could not find Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons 3-4. Wikimedia Commons
10 Relatively New TraditionsBased on current literature bigger idols and paints appear to be a relatively new (in the past years) phenomenon Lead paints are used widely Information backed by Government and Industry reports
11 Environmental Impact Although this festival takes place only once per year, the effects are lasting due to lead content in paint and other materials used for making the statutes.
12 A Closer Look at Ganesh Chaturthi in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and Lead Paints Point out Tamil Nadu and Coimbatore. Note: Although my research is focused here, literature cites this occurrence in many other cities and states throughout India. Photo Credit:Wikimedia Commons
13 Indian Paint Industry and LeadThe Indian Paint Industry is a 112 billion Rupees (US$2.2 billion) sector that has been growing at a 15% rate since 2011 (Mohanty, 2012) 57% - Multinationals and Large Indian Paint Companies (10-12 main players) 43% - Small-scale industries that produce paint for the local markets 90-93% overall manufacturing of paint in India is lead based (BIS, Bhowmik, 2012) Bureau of Industry Standards in India set the maximum: Reduced from 1,000 ppm to 300 ppm in 2011 (BIS, 2016) In the United States Standards: 90 ppm (US EPA, 2016) According the Bureau of Industry Standards, the occurrence of lead in manufactured paint made in India is at 93% (BIS, 2014). An impact study conducted by three Universities in Coimbatore (Bhowmik, 2012)- gave a 90% rate of overall manufacturing of paint in India has a lead base. (Pharma Journal, 2012). This study also emphasises how indiscriminately lead based paint is used in toys, paints, and jewelry along with decorative paints for Lord ganesh idols. These figures are higher than a study conducted in 2009 in the industry recognised Global Lead Paints report, who presented data levels at 83% which might be explained by the growth increase of 15% cited more recently in 2012. This means that the majority of paints tested at 300 ppm, the voluntary level set by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The BIS sets industry standards, but the standards are voluntary, and not enforced and well below some international levels… This is unfortunate, especially because there is no legislation in India that prohibits the use of heavy metals in paints intended for decorative use (Mohanty, 2013) (Don’t read this)(“The Bureau of Indian Standards is the Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) came into existence, through an act of parliament dated 26 November 1986, on 1 April 1987, with a broadened scope and more powers taking over the staff, assets, liabilities and functions of erstwhile ISI. Through this change over, the government envisaged building a climate for quality culture and consciousness and greater participation of consumers in formulation and implementation of national standards (BIS website, 2016).” Another study published in the Journal of Environmental Development Sustainability tested 148 decorative paint samples in India, samples collected from organized sectors and unorgainized sectors including small scale factories that are virtually unregulated
14 Impact of lead on the environmentDispersed primarily by anthropogenic activities: -Air Pollution: particles and fossil fuel combustion -Soil Pollution: retained in upper levels of soil -Water Pollution: - high solubility in acidic water, - leaches into soil, - taken in by plants and aquatic animals
15 Impact of lead on human health- Internationally recognized as a toxic metal (UNEP 2013) - Extremely harmful,no benefits to human health at any level - Neurological damage and damage to nearly all organs -Children 6yrs and younger are most vulnerable - Lead poisoning effects 600,000 children per year (WHO 2016) The United Nations Environmental Program has formed a Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (GAELP) working with NGO’s to collect data on the use of lead paint throughout the world, although there is not a specific NGO in India, to address this topic, scholars and scientists are taking on the work themselves. According to the WHO, Lead exposure is estimated to account for 0.6% of the global burden of disease, with the highest burden in developing regions. Childhood lead exposure is estimated to contribute to about 600,000 new cases of children with intellectual disabilities every year. Recent reductions in the use of lead in petrol, paint, plumbing and solder have resulted in substantial reductions in blood lead levels. However, significant sources of exposure still remain, particularly in developing countries.
16 What is being done? Despite the agreement from government health agencies, indiscriminate use of lead paint is still very common in world-wide. Attention to lead issues is also an issue in the US, consider the recent contamination of water in Flint Michigan. How many more examples of this are underway, underreported by local agencies? Evidence suggests that there are significant regulations in place, they are just not being adhered to or enforced. I wanted to know what is being done in India.
17 Government policies: Environmental Protection Act (1986)Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 (amended in 2003) Wildlife Protection Act (1972) – fish and other acquatic organisms No literature was found on how they are used to protect waterbodies “This act seeks to prevent and control water pollution and maintain and restore the wholesomeness of water. It gives powers to water boards to set standards and regulations for prevention and control of pollution. In addition to all the laws, rules and regulation that make up water law, there is a substantial body of additional rules and regulations at the local level. (IELRC, 2007). Section 47. Addresses offenses by companies and corporations. It was last amended in 2003 “The Government of India enacted Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 with the objective of effectively protecting the wild life of this country and to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives. The Act was amended in January 2003 and punishment and penalty for offences under the Act have been made more stringent. The Ministry has proposed further amendments in the law by introducing more rigid measures to strengthen the Act. The objective is to provide protection to the listed endangered flora and fauna and ecologically important protected areas.” “ An explicitly recognized and well-defined right to water needs to find a direct entry into the Constitution of India.” (IDFC Report, 2011) The United Nations Environmental Program has formed a Global Alliance to Eliminate Lead Paint (GAELP) working with NGO’s to collect data on the use of lead paint throughout the world, although there is not a specific NGO in India, to address this topic, scholars and scientists are taking on the work themselves.
18 Academic research: Peer-reviewed literature on the impact of Pb and other pollutants on water and sediments in Tamil Nadu, India Water quality studies Inter Pullum Dam Before and after the festival (Mohan Raj, 2012) In some coastal areas before and after the festival (Borhade, 2013) Soil studies Near the Noyyal River (Ansari, Gadhia, Surana, 2015) Impact on plants (Agoramoorthy, 2012) Impact on fish (Battacharya, 2014)
19 Awareness in Popular Media:Newspapers Blog posts Mostly in English Some in regional languages
20 Recommendations Current literature recommendsImpose a nationwide ban on lead paint Regulate Small Scale Paint Industry (43% of production) Water Quality Collect reliable and annual data Use these data to effect policy change at a local level
21 Conservation Efforts -Eco-friendly materials clay and natural color paints -Smaller, contained Immersion sites locally Blue Cross of Hyderabad founder Akkineni Amala with eco-friendly materials clay and natural colours Ganesha idols at Lumbini Park ss part of clean Hussain Sagar Campaign in Hyderabad on Friday. (Photo: A Radhakrishna) Still, underlying recommendations call for central and state recognized regulations including banning lead paint, which would require regulating small scale industries using lead freely. The New Indian Express, Wednesday, April 27, 2016
22 Planned Trip to India (summer 2016)Observation of conservation efforts Gather documents Go to libraries Talk to experts Continue researching how traditions contirubute to environmental pollution.
23 Thank you. Questions?