The five-day Bhavani Deeksha Viramanalu-2025 in Vijayawada concluded on December 15, leaving behind a monumental sanitation challenge for the city's civic body. The religious event, held from December 11 to 15, generated a staggering 380 metric tonnes of general waste, highlighting the massive scale of the congregation.
Sacred Red Clothes: An 80-Tonne Challenge
A unique and significant part of the waste stream came from the sacred red clothes left behind by devotees after the 'deeksha relinquishment' ritual at the bathing ghats. The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) sanitation teams, deployed specifically for Deeksha Viramanalu duties, faced the task of clearing approximately 16 metric tonnes of these clothes each day. Over the five-day period, this amounted to a total of over 80 metric tonnes of sacred red fabric.
VMC Commissioner HM Dhyanachandra explained the proactive measures taken. A conveyor belt installed at the Krishna Veni ghat, combined with dedicated workers along the bathing ghats, enabled real-time clearance of the clothes. "This ensured the clothes waste did not pile up and the bathing areas remained clean and tidy, providing a pleasant experience to all the Bhavani devotees," Dhyanachandra stated.
Comprehensive Sanitation Management Plan in Action
To manage the unprecedented influx of waste, the VMC executed a large-scale, round-the-clock sanitation plan. A workforce of 1,690 sanitation workers was deployed in three shifts across key locations, including the Giripradakshina path and darshan routes. Their duties involved continuously clearing discarded items like water bottles, biscuit packets, and used milk cups left by the devotees.
The infrastructure support for this operation was substantial:
- 3,500 dustbins were placed along the routes.
- 60 compactor bins were stationed at 25 strategic points.
- A fleet of tractors, DCM vans, CNG autos, and compactor vehicles was used for prompt waste transport and disposal.
Preventive Health Measures for Devotee Safety
Beyond solid waste management, the civic body also focused on public health hygiene. As a preventive measure, sanitation teams sprinkled approximately 250 metric tonnes of bleaching powder along the darshan routes. This step was crucial in ensuring sanitation and preventing the spread of pathogens in the heavily crowded areas.
Commissioner Dhyanachandra emphasized that the comprehensive plan was carried out without any lapses, ensuring strict cleanliness and preventing the accumulation of waste throughout the event. The successful management of the record-breaking waste from the Bhavani Deeksha Viramanalu stands as a testament to the VMC's large-scale operational planning and execution capabilities for major public religious events.
