Siliguri, 31st January: Keeping faith and environmental protection in mind, the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has taken a commendable initiative by collecting idols of deities left at various road crossings, drains and under trees across the city and immersing them in rivers following proper rituals.
The initiative was started on the instructions of MMIC Manik Dey and is being seen as a positive step towards social responsibility. After Saraswati Puja, idols, especially those of Goddess Saraswati, are often found abandoned at roadsides or open spaces instead of being immersed, a practice that hurts religious sentiments.
There is a common belief among some sections of society that immersing the idol of Goddess Saraswati symbolises the immersion of knowledge, leading many to avoid immersion after the puja. However, leaving idols in open areas where filth accumulates and animals move around is considered disrespectful to religious faith.
Taking this into account, a team from the Siliguri Municipal Corporation’s solid waste management department, led by MMIC Manik Dey, toured different parts of the city to collect idols of Goddess Saraswati and other deities and ensured their respectful immersion.
Speaking to the media, Manik Dey said that immersing idols with proper rituals after puja is the right practice. He added that abandoning idols in the open not only disrespects faith but also contributes to pollution. The initiative aims to protect religious sentiments while keeping the city clean.