Andawa Durga Idol Immersion Site
PRAYAGRAJ: On September 8, 2013, in view of the increasing pollution of the Ganga, the Allahabad High Court adopted a strict stand and imposed a ban on idol immersions in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
Acting on the High Court’s orders, the administration hastily identified a small pond in Andawa for Durga idol immersions.
In 2014, after the Sharadiya Navratri, committees carrying idols to the site were angered by the poor arrangements and the dirty water of the pond. Several committees even refused to immerse idols in the foul water.
When the administration forced the matter, a major clash broke out. Dozens of people, including police personnel, were injured, and criminal cases were registered.
Two years later, in 2015, the larger pond in Andawa village was designated as the official site. Since then, the immersion of Durga and Ganesh idols has continued there.
Even after a decade, the condition of the pond designated for idol immersion has not improved, while the nearby smaller pond has been fully rejuvenated. Residents are deeply upset about the pond’s condition and its filthy, black water.
Organizing committees, too, are worried, demanding that clean water be provided at the immersion site. Yet, with only a few days left for immersions, neither the water nor the water hyacinth nor the remains of earlier idwere olswere cleared.
Members of the Bengali community said that Durga Puja holds special significance for them, something they wait for throughout the year.
After daily rituals and prayers at the pandals, devotees bring the idols for immersion with music and processions at the end of Navratri. After immersion, worshippers traditionally perform achaman (ritual sipping) with the pond water and take some of the holy water back to sprinkle in their homes and prayer spaces.
But when the pond water is dirty and black, people’s religious sentiments are hurt, and they are unable to perform these sacred customs. This recurring problem arises almost every year. Committees repeatedly demand a permanent solution, but no concrete action has been taken so far.
This year too, during meetings with the administration, puja committees raised the issue and requested clean water at the site.
However, with immersions now just days away, the water remains unchanged. Committees fear that the administration will treat the matter casually, merely going through the motions of the event, leaving the problem unresolved once again.
Villagers Demand Beautification of the Pond
For many years, locals of Andawa have been demanding beautification of the large pond, but their appeals have been ignored. Meanwhile, the nearby small pond has been transformed completely. The small pond has been concretized, surrounded with high wire fencing, and even equipped with open-air gym facilities.
In contrast, the large pond remains in a state of neglect. Residents say that, given its location along the busy Varanasi–Prayagraj highway, the pond could be developed as a boating and tourist spot if beautified. Doing so would not only improve its condition but also ensure clean water throughout the year.
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