Cleanliness is, indeed, next to godliness

India, vibrant and diverse, revels in its festivals. But behind the celebrations lies an unpleasant truth: almost every festival leaves a heavy, relentless trail of pollution. Chhath Puja starts today, and rivers and water bodies are set to bear the brunt. Even though many idols - Durga, Ganesh, etc - use eco-friendly colours, add-ons like plastics, aluminium foil and fabric pollute rivers, harm aquatic life and upset delicate ecosystems. Noise pollution remains the silent bane of India.

Pollution also feeds convenient politics. BJP sparring with AAP in Delhi over chemicals used to clear the Yamuna's foamy mess is just one example. Across India, irrespective of party colour, governments have failed to address environmental decay. It's not even an election issue. With every passing year and festival, the situation worsens. This Diwali, when tracking dangerous pollution peaks was critical, majority of Delhi's 39 continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations went offline for hours, leaving major data gaps. Even the few functioning stations faced blackouts of 1-9 hrs during the crucial 36-hr window between midnight Monday and 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

Yet, the responsibility does not rest with governments alone. Citizens, too, must shoulder the blame for thoughtlessly contributing to environmental degradation - whether polluting rivers, neglecting urban waste or disregarding the impact on children, the elderly and those with disabilities like autism, and facilitating the distress of animals. Festivals are meant to celebrate life, not compromise it. As Chhath Puja unfolds, the citizenry and state should stop making our festivals seem hardwired to civic pain. Instead, bring back the truth in the old adage: cleanliness is next to godliness.