Mangaluru Launches 'Visarjane' Campaign for Respectful Disposal of Religious Waste
In a significant environmental and cultural initiative, the Ramakrishna Mission Swacch Mangaluru Abhiyan, in collaboration with MRPL and with support from Swacch Mangaluru Prathishtana, has launched the 'Visarjane' campaign. This program is dedicated to the collection and safe disposal of religious waste, aiming to address a growing concern in the community. The launch event took place at Ramakrishna Math in Mangaluru on Monday, marking the start of a campaign that will run until March 26.
Campaign Details and Objectives
Swami Jitakamananda, president of Ramakrishna Math in Mangaluru, emphasized that the 'Visarjane' campaign seeks to provide a dignified and respectful method for disposing of old religious items. This initiative was sparked during a cleanliness drive in early March near the Kadri Manjunatha temple, where volunteers discovered discarded religious materials in public spaces. They collected and properly disposed of these items, leading to the decision to formalize the effort into a broader campaign.
To facilitate public participation, temporary collection boxes have been set up at six key locations across Mangaluru:
- Mangaladevi Temple
- Kadri Manjunatha Temple
- Bharath Mall
- Forum Fiza Mall
- City Centre Mall
- Govinda Dasa College campus in Surathkal
Residents are encouraged to deposit items such as old framed pictures of deities, broken idols, calendars with religious images, and other puja materials at these centers.
Disposal Process and Environmental Responsibility
All collected items will be transported to the Kadri temple premises for safe storage and further processing. Before final disposal, temple priests will conduct an 'Udvasana Puja' to ensure religious sanctity. Following this, volunteers will segregate the materials:
- Paper-based images of deities will be respectfully immersed in water and later placed in a designated pit in the temple garden, where a Tulsi plant will be planted to symbolize renewal.
- Items made of wood, glass, and metal will be sorted separately. Recyclable materials will be sent to recycling units, while non-recyclable ones will undergo safe disposal through co-processing in cement factories, minimizing environmental harm.
Swami Jitakamananda highlighted that the campaign also aims to raise awareness about managing religious waste in an environmentally responsible manner. He appealed to the public to avoid using images of gods and goddesses on invitations, noting that Ramakrishna Math in Belur has already instructed all its branches to refrain from such practices to prevent post-event discarding.
Community Support and Future Plans
Keshav Patali from MRPL's CSR wing expressed support for the initiative, pointing out that improper disposal of religious scrap, such as throwing framed images into rivers, is a common issue. MRPL's involvement underscores the corporate sector's role in promoting sustainability.
Regarding the campaign's continuity, coordinator Ranjan Bellarpady mentioned receiving inquiries from other taluks about similar efforts. Plans are underway to establish a permanent collection counter in Mangaluru, ensuring long-term impact. Swami Nityasthananda, president of Ramakrishna Math in Basavanagudi, was also present at the launch, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the initiative.
This campaign represents a proactive step towards blending cultural respect with environmental stewardship, setting a precedent for other communities to follow.
