From Waste To Art: Pune’s Punaravartan Reshapes Ganeshotsav Traditions

Pune, 25th September 2023: As the festive fervor of Ganeshotsav grips Pune, the city is setting a shining example of environmental stewardship through the Punaravartan campaign. Spearheaded by 25 dedicated organizations, this initiative aims to collect and recycle between 50 to 100 tonnes of natural clay, ultimately returning it to artisans for reuse.

The brainchild of the eCoexist Foundation, the Punaravartan campaign began in 2020, driven by extensive research on the recycling potential of shaadu clay, a non-renewable resource. After the immersion of Ganesh idols in water bodies, the residue often forms clay deposits on the waterbeds, posing a threat to the local flora and fauna. Moreover, this non-renewable resource is lost forever in the process.

In 2022, over 20 city-based organizations rallied to the cause, reaching out to more than 150 societies, numerous schools, institutions, and engaging over 200 volunteers on the ground. This collective effort resulted in the collection of 23 tonnes of this precious natural resource.

This year, a formidable coalition of groups, led by the eCoexist Foundation, has come together to continue this vital mission. The list of participating organizations includes prominent names like CEE, SWaCH, Social Seva Initiatives, Jeevit Nadi, and many others committed to environmental conservation.

Several schools are actively participating in this campaign, hosting collection centers. Additionally, Ganesh Mandals have been informed and are actively contributing by spreading awareness through video displays and WhatsApp messages.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has wholeheartedly embraced the Punaravartan campaign. To ensure the success of the initiative, a comprehensive training program has been conducted for all staff members of the Solid Waste Management Department, focusing on the collection process.

Here’s how the clay collection process will unfold in Pune city:

1. Home Immersions: Poornam Ecovision and Paryavaran Gatividhi will host 50 collection centers (at least 3 in each ward) where citizens can offer their clay after visarjan. These centers will be open on Sunday, October 1, from 10 am to 2 pm.
2. Home and Public Immersions: The Pune Municipal Corporation will establish 46 collection centers for clay donation (at least 3 in each ward), allowing citizens to immerse their clay idols or donate the clay directly. The clay sludge from the immersion tanks will be collected after visarjan. These centers will be open for clay collection on Saturday, September 23, and Thursday, September 28.
3. Society Immersions: SWaCH Cooperative will set up 26 collection centers at large societies across the city for clay donation and collection. These centers will be open for clay collection on October 1, 2023.

In total, 122 collection centers will be available throughout the festival season for Pune’s citizens to donate clay sludge.

Detailed information, including maps, addresses, and contact details of coordinators for each center, can be found on the Punaravartan website at www.punaravartan.org. Citizens can also sign up for clay donation on the website. Societies conducting larger clay collections can reach out to the team for logistics support.

The collected clay sludge will be redistributed to artisans and utilized for experimental applications, showcasing sustainable solutions in the upcoming seasons.

Pune’s Punaravartan campaign underscores the city’s commitment to environmental conservation, providing a shining example for others to follow in the quest for a sustainable future.