International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Technology

Volume No.5 Issue No.1, pp: 1-9

ISSN:2277-1581
01 Jan.2016

Comparative Effects of Idols Immersion on the Quality of Flowing Holy Ganga

Water and Stagnant Water of Ganga Sarovar: A Case Study at Varanasi
R S Dubey and A R Dubey*
Department of Applied Chemistry, Amity Institute of Applied Science, Amity University, NOIDA, India
* SG Lab, GSS, Gangagram, BHU, Varanasi-221005, India
Email: dubeyrs40@gmail.com
Abstract: Idols are constructed using various materials like
natural soil, plaster of paris, paddy straw, husk, cloths, mild
steel, bamboo and are well beautified with the help of different
enamel paints such as varnish, water colors and sindhoor (red
oxide), etc. which damage water quality after immersion.
Painting materials which are used to colour these idols contain
various heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, cobalt,
chromium mercury, nickel, lead and zinc, particularly, red,
blue, orange and green colours contain compounds of mercury,
zinc, chromium, cadmium, cobalt, nickel and lead. These
compounds are carcinogenic. Two heavy metals such as lead
and chromium are also added in the water bodies through
sindoor. The materials of idols are frequently found floating in
the river water. The water qualities are deteriorated after
decomposition of idol materials and cause eutrophication and
acidity of water. The heavy metals concentrations are increased
in water. Heavy metal pollution caused by idol immersion can
damage the ecosystem as it kills fishes, damages plants and
blocks the natural flow of the water, causing stagnation which
is more dangerous. The effects of idol immersion on various
natural water bodies in India are damages in various ways.
Present investigations were carried out to find out the effects of
immersion of idols on water quality by collecting and analyzing
the water samples from the immersion points near holy Ganga
river and temporary ponds named Ganga Sarovar-I and II.
Several physico-chemical parameters like Temperature, pH,
Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD),
Dissolved CO2, Conductivity, Alkalinity, Total Dissolved Solid
(TDS), Total Sususpended Solid (TSS), Total Hardness (TH)
and Nitrate, Phosphate, Sulphae, Chlorides, and Total
Microbial Population (TMP) were estimated using standard
techniques. Most of the studies showed significant changes in
the water quality parameters after immersion. The significant
changes in physicochemical properties of water revealed
decrease in the dissolved oxygen, and increase in all other
parameters. In view of the observed changes in the water
quality, it has been suggested that there is need to aware masses
to use eco-friendly material for idol making. They should
immerse these into natural flow water systems as per
suggestions provided by scientific rules after traditional
worship. Seepage of decomposing materials was also noticed
from Ganga Sarovar-I mixing into main stream of holy river
Ganga. Thus, large number of toxic metals and harmful
microbes are directly added into main stream of Ganga water.
The case study also revealed that temporary pond should not be
made near bank of river Ganga to avoid any seepage and more
contamination in the Ganga water.
doi : 10.17950/ijset/v5s1/101

Key words: Ganga water, Idol immersion, Ganga sarovar,

Pollution, Physicochemical parameters, Toxic metals.
1.
INTRODUCTION
India is a rich cultural country in which diverse cultural and
religious festivals are organized throughout the year for reforming
human duties, ethical values and enhancing eternal energy1-4.
Traditions and cultures are the main symbol of each county. In
Indian culture, various religious festivals are organized for
development of ethical values and maintain humanities from
generation to generation3. Idol is an image of a deity to which
religious worship is addressed or any person or thing regarded
with admiration, adoration or devotion and also a religious. Idols
are a visual image of Gods/Goddesses which is used as an object
of worship in personally and/or collective forms. Idol is an image
of a god/Goddess which is used as an object of worship for
maintaining concentration. In India, idols are worshipped with all
rituals on various occasions in a particular month of the year. The
time span of these kinds of festivals may vary from one and half
day to five days, seven days or even ten days. After worship,
these idols are immersed into flowing water bodies. Among the
significant Indian festivals, some important examples are Lord
Ganesh Puja, Durga puja, Jagadhatri puja, Laxmi puja, Tazia,
Ganesh puja etc. in which the incidences of idol immersions can
be observed. The physico-chemical and biological characteristics
of natural water bodies were reported by several researchers.5-10
Idol immersion activities in water bodies are adding to the
pollution load. Non-biodegradable materials and synthetic paints
used for making these deities are serious threat to aquatic life and
environment.
Generally, thousands of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Durga idols
of various sizes reaching heights up to 10 to 20 feet are
immersed every year in different water bodies. These idols are
made by plaster of paris, clay, cloths, small iron rods, bamboo
and are decorated with different paints such as varnish, water
colors etc. (Table 1). Plaster of Paris (POP), which is cheaper
and lighter, has become the favoured material to mould these
idols. POP contains chemicals such as phosphorus, gypsum,
sulphur, and magnesium. These idols are decorated with plastic
and thermocols. Out of the all materials used in making the idol,
thermocol and plastic is non bio-degradable, hence are toxic.
1.1Toxic Metals and Paints
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition that, after
application to a substrate in a thin layer, converts to a solid film.
It is most commonly used to protect color or provide texture to
objects. In its most basic form, paint consists of colour (the
pigment) and the solvent in which the pigment is suspended.
Some metals are used in paints as pigment are given in Table 1.
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Volume No.5 Issue No.1, pp: 1-9

ISSN:2277-1581
01 Jan.2016

Table 1: Chemical composition of metal based pigments

S Pigmen
ts
N
o
.
1 Purple
pigment
s

2 Blue
pigment
s

3 Green
pigment
s

4 Yellow
pigment
s

5 Orange
pigment
s

Red
pigment
s

Brown
pigment
s

Black
pigment
s

White
pigment
s

Metals and compounds

Aluminum pigments: Ultramarine violet:

Silicate of sodium and aluminum containing
sulfur.
Copper pigments: Han Purple: BaCuSi2O6.
Cobalt pigments: Cobalt Violet: cobaltous
orthophosphate.
Manganese pigments: Manganese violet:
NH4MnP2O7 (PV16)
Manganic
ammonium pyrophosphate[1]
Aluminum pigments: Ultramarine : a complex
naturally
occurring
pigment
of sulfurcontaining sodio-silicate (Na8-10Al6Si6O24S2-4)
Cobalt pigments: Cobalt Blue and Cerulean
Blue : cobalt(II) stannate
Copper pigments: Egyptian Blue: a synthetic
pigment
of
calcium
copper
silicate
(CaCuSi4O10). Thought to be the first
synthetically produced pigment.
Han Blue: BaCuSi4O10
Iron pigments: Prussian Blue: a synthetic
pigment of ferric hexacyanoferrate (Fe7(CN)18).
The dye Marking blue is made by mixing
Prussian Blue and alcohol.
Manganese pigments: Manganese Oxide Blue
Cadmium pigments: Cadmium Green: a light
green pigment consisting of a mixture of
Cadmium Yellow (CdS) and Viridian (Cr2O3)
Chromium pigments: Chrome green : chromic
oxide (Cr2O3)
Viridian : a dark green pigment of hydrated
chromic oxide (Cr2O3H2O)
Copper pigments: Paris Green: cupric
acetoarsenite (Cu(C2H3O2)23Cu(AsO2)2)
Scheeles Green (also called Schloss Green):
cupric arsenite CuHAsO3
Arsenic pigments: Orpiment natural monoclinic
arsenic sulfide (As2S3),
Cadmium pigments: Cadmium Yellow :
cadmium sulfide (CdS)
Chromium pigments: Chrome Yellow : natural
pigment of plumbous chromate (PbCrO4).
Cobalt pigments: Aureolin(also called Cobalt
Yellow):
Potassium
cobaltinitrite
(Na3Co(NO2)6).
Iron Pigments: Yellow Ochre : a naturally
occurring clay of monohydrated ferric oxide
(Fe2O3.H2O)
Lead pigments: Naples Yellow; lead-tin-yellow
Titanium pigments: Titanium Yellow
Tin
Pigments:
Mosaic
gold: stannic
sulfide (SnS2)
Cadmium pigments: Cadmium Orange: an
intermediate between cadmium red and cadmium
yellow: cadmium sulfoselenide.
Chromium pigments: Chrome Orange: a
naturally occurring pigment mixture composed

doi : 10.17950/ijset/v5s1/101

of lead(II)
chromate and lead(II)
oxide.
(PbCrO4 + PbO)
Cadmium pigments: Cadmium Red : cadmium
selenide (CdSe)
Iron
oxide
pigments:
Sanguine, Caput
Mortuum, Venetian Red, Oxide Red
Red Ochre : anhydrous Fe2O3
Burnt Sienna : a pigment produced by heating
Raw Sienna.
Lead pigments: Red Lead: lead tetroxide, Pb3O4
Mercury pigments: Vermilion: Synthetic and
natural
pigment:
Occurs
naturally
in
mineral cinnabar. Mercuric sulfide (HgS)
Clay earth pigments (naturally formed iron
oxides) Raw Umber: a natural clay pigment
consisting of iron oxide, manganese oxide and
aluminum oxide: Fe2O3 + MnO2 + nH2O + Si +
AlO3. When calcined (heated) it is referred to as
Burnt Umber and has more intense colors.
Raw Sienna : a naturally occurring yellow-brown
pigment from limonite clay. Used in art
since prehistoric times.
Carbon pigments: Carbon Black, Ivory Black,
Vine Black. Lamp Black
Iron Pigments: Iron black : Fe3O4
Titanium pigments: Titanium Black
Antimony pigments: Antimony White: stibous
oxide (Sb2O3)
Barium pigments: Barium sulfate (BaSO4)
Lead pigments: Cremnitz White : basic
plumbous carbonate ((PbCO3)2Pb(OH)2)
Titanium pigments: Titanium White: titanic
oxide (TiO2)
Zinc pigments: Zinc white : Zinc Oxide (ZnO)

Mostly, paint materials which are used to colouring these idols

contain various heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, cobalt,
zinc, chromium and lead. Particularly, red, blue, orange and green
colours contain mercury, zinc oxide, chromium and lead, which
are potent carcinogens. Two heavy metals such as lead and
chromium also added in the water bodies through sindoor lead
and chromium are very toxic even in very small quantity for
human being. Through food chains, these heavy metals can enter
into the living body by bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
The requirement of water is in all lives, from microorganisms to
man including plants, is a serious problem today because all water
resources have reached to a point of crisis due to directly injection
of untreated urban sewage and industrial effluents into natural
water bodies. It disturbs the ecological balance by polluting water
and adversely affecting the flora and fauna. There is impact of
idol immersion in water bodies on the environment. The central
pollution control board (CPCB), New Delhi gives some
guidelines for controlling water pollution due to immersion of
idols.
Another significant cause of water pollution is Idol immersion in
water bodies. In present investigation, the effects of idol
immersion were performed in holy Ganga river water quality
parameters during pre-immersion, immersion and post-immersion
periods and in temporary pond named as Ganga Sarovar-I and II
constructed by district administration (Figures 1 and 2). The
Ponds are used for compliance of Allahabad high court order due
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to police misbehariour with sadhu/sant and sanatani Vedic
children students and public pressure for immersion of idols in
river Ganga water (Figure-3). After construction, it was filled by
holy Ganga water for immersion of idols (Figure 4).
2. EXPERIMENAL PROCEDURE
2. 1Location of sampling sites
The experimental sites are situated on holy Ganga river bank ,
Varanasi, India. These sites are located at the convex of Ganga
bank area in the south north of Varanasi (25 18' N latitude, 83
01' E longitude and 76.19 m above the mean sea level). It is
situated in the eastern Gangetic plains of India (Figure 5).
Present study was carried out in the natural and simulated
conditions to find out the impact of different idols on immersion
in river and temporary pond water. The study was designed into
two categories. In the first step, water samples were collected
during idols immersion point from pre-immerse, immerse and
post-immerse periods of idols immersion in holy river Ganga, in
Varanasi for investigation of various physicochemical parameters.
The samples were collected in well rinsed and pre-cleaned plastic
canes for analysis. In the second step, water sample was collected
from water pond Ganga Sarovar I and II after 20 days.
Consequently five samplings at the interval of 5 days were done.
The contaminated pond water samples were also collected for
investigation of physiochemical parameters of pond water. First
investigation was kept in natural Ganga flow water and condition
and second in pond water (stagnant condition) for 20 days.
Collected water samples were taken out for analysis of
physicochemical parameters such as Conductivity, Turbidity, pH,
Alkalinity, Total Hardness (TH), Total Calcium (TC), Chloride,
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Total Dissolve Solids (TDS),
Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) test as per the standard
procedure of APHA, (2005). Toxic metals like cadmium.
chromium, cobalt, lead, iron, nickel, zinc and iron were analyzed
by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The same procedures
were also applied for natural water flow condition. Microbial
population was studied using standard biological techniques. The
contaminated pond water after immersion of 20 days and its
seepage was studied in view of idol immersion.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The case study was focused on assessment physicochemical
characteristics of the flowing Ganga water and stagnant Ganga
Sarovar-I and II water (Figure 6). The study revealed that idol
immersion activity has negative impact on pond water quality as
compared to flowing Ganga water.
3.1Idol immersion Effect on Physicochemical Parameters
Except DO, all other physico-chemical parameters show increase
in their concentration after 20 days of idol immersion in stagnant
Ganga Sarovar-I and II water. The results of present
investigations are shown in Table 2. The data reveal that water
quality of holy Ganga River is less deteriorated in comparison to
temporary pond water due to the immersion of idols.
3.1.1 Effect of temperature

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Temperature in Ganga river water rose suddenly from 1.3 0C to

2.4 0C and become normal after 4 to 5 hour during the
investigation period. While temperature of stagnant pond water
increased from 7.9 0C to 8.6 0C which was higher in comparison
to river water. The rise in pond water temperature is responsible
for increasing the chemical as well as aerobic and anaerobic
biological reactions in pond water which enhance solubility of
other newly produced chemical products. Effect of various
religious activities and rise in temperature was also observed by
many investigators11-13.
3.1.2 Effect of pH
The pH of stagnant Ganga Sarovar-I and II water is important.
The pH of water is major factor because many chemical reactions
and microbial activities are governed by it14. The pH range varied
from 6.8 to 7.2 in river water and from 4.7 to 5.9 for temporary
pond water. The minimum pH (6.8) was observed on immersion
while pH 4.7 was observed during immersion period of idols in
pond water (Table 2).
3.1.3 Effect of CO2
The free CO2 produced by microbial activities is most important
for algal growth, as it is required for the photosynthesis. Low free
CO2 (14.06-16.22 mg/L) was found during idol immersion in
river and comparatively pond water immersion while high free
CO2 (32.9-37.4mg/L) was found after 20 days immersion (Table2). There are possibility for formation of organic acids after
microbial activities in the presence of CO2 in stagnant Ganga
Sarovar-I and II water. When CO2 is dissolved in water, a small
proportion of it reacts chemically with H2O to form carbonic acid,
H2CO3. In water carbonic acid dissociates rapidly to form a H+
ion and HCO3- ion so it affects the carbonate equilibrium and
pH14.
3.1.4 Effect of dissolved oxygen
The dissolved oxygen plays important role to measure the quality
of water. There were no change observed in DO during the
investigation period of idols immersion in Ganga water while the
variation was major found in stagnant Ganga Sarovar-I and II
water (Table 2). Warmer water can hold less dissolved oxygen
than colder water. Dissolved oxygen is reduced by the biological
decay of organic material such as decaying paints and idol
making materials.
As represented in the Table 2, the DO of Ganga river was from
8.7 to 8.8 after idol immersion. The DO of Ganga Sarovar-I (4.7
mg/L) is higher than Ganga Sarovar-II (3.8 mg/L) at same
interval. The dissolve oxygen values were found to be significant
due to same intervals which were dependent on filled water
quality in the pond and number of immersed idols. The value of
dissolved oxygen was less as compared to Ganga water.
Monitored DO value periodically revealed that there was a
continuous decrease in the value gradually until it did not reach to
zero level. This decrease may create dangerous anaerobic
condition. On the basis of dissolve oxygen level it indicates that
stagnant pond water is not suitable for idol immersion.
After analyzing the Ganga river water samples, it was found that
before the immersion of idols the dissolved oxygen level was 8.8
mg/L which decreased during immersion (8.2 mg/L) and after the
immersion activity, at it reached up to 8.7 mg/L due to flowing
water15.
3.1.5 Effect of BOD
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Biochemical oxygen demand is the amount of oxygen required by
microorganisms to decomposition of organic matter in the water.
BOD gives an idea about the quantity of biodegradable organic
substances present in water. The higher BOD values indicate the
presence of various biodegradable organic matters. Higher values
of BOD have direct correlation with nutrient level but it has a
strong negative correlation with DO. In the present study
maximum BOD value was observed during immersion period i.e.,
14.7 to 17.4 mg/l (Table 2) due to increase amount of
decomposition of organic matter of idols into the Ganga Sarovar-I
and Ganga Sarovar-II. Earlier studies reported the high values
(23.0-56.4 mg/L) and indicated the high organic pollution in
river16-17.
3.1.6 Effect of COD
COD is the capacity of water to consume oxygen during the
decomposition of organic matter. It helps to indicate the pollution
status of water body. The values of COD was found to vary from
Ganga river water to Ganga Sarovar-I and then to Ganga SarovarII water respectively (Table-2). COD of pond water increased
with increasing incubation period which was possibly due to
decomposition of the immersed idol materials18.
3.1.7 Effect of total dissolved solids
TDS is the total amount of mobile charged ions, minerals, salts
and metals in a given unit volume of water. TDS is directly
related to the purity and quality of water. As represented in the
Table 2, the total dissolved solid value of Ganga river is very less
than Ganga Sarovar-I and Ganga Sarovar-II. The total dissolved
solid values were found to increase significantly due to
dissolution of idols colouring materials and different days of
incubation. This total dissolved solid value of Ganga water is very
low as compared to temporary pond8-10.
3.1.8 Effect of total suspended solids, turbidity and smell
Presence of suspended solids in water transparency is an impotent
index of eutrophication. Evaluation of Ganga Sarovar-I and
Ganga Sarovar-II directly reflected the pond limpid and muddy
degree, affected by suspended solids and phytoplankton in water.
Huge quantities of inorganic and organic materials were added to
the Ganga Sarovar-I and Ganga Sarovar-II after 20 days of idol
immersion which contribute much in increasing TSS. High
turbidity creates damage to aquatic living community. Present
investigation showed that TSS, turbidity and bad smelling
increased or transparency of pond water decreased up to it black
appearance after few day idol immersion (Table 2) due to addition
of different colouring materials of idols11-12.
3.1.9 Effect of hardness
Hardness is an important factor for detecting water quality. In the
present investigation, the maximum hardness recorded in Ganga
Sarovar-II in compared to Ganga Sarovar-I and flowing Ganga
water after 20 days idol immersion (Table 2) i.e., 314.7 mg /L.
High value of total hardness during immersion was observed by
different researchers19-21.
3.1.10 Effect of conductivity
Conductivity of water indicates that the presence of charged ions
and particles to carry an electric current. Conductivity depends on
the presence of ions, on their total concentration, mobility, and
the temperature of system. Electrical conductivity is found to be
good parameter of water quality. In the present case study

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electrical conductivity value of Ganga Sarovar-II as compared to

Ganga Sarovar-I (Table 2).
The values in selected parameter were observed high in pond
water in compared to Ganga river water after immersion of idols.
The higher values of all sample sites studied in pond water have
direct correlation with increase in microbial metabolic activities
in the stagnant water condition after idols immersion. These
investigations reveal that stagnant water conditions create toxicity
in comparison to flowing water by the production of toxic
intermediates and harmful gases.
3.1.11 Effect of nitrate, phosphate, sulphate and chloride
The results obtained by present investigation indicated that
concentration of all anions such as nitrate, phosphate, sulphate
and chloride are increased in Ganga Sarovar-I and Ganga
Sarovar-II in compare to flowing Ganga water due to microbial
attack on idols making materials (Table 2). The nutrient value
paddy straw is given in Table 3. In the presence of paddy straw in
stagnant pond water, microbes are easily attack on it break down
into nutritional components and are also harmful gases.
Phosphate acts as an important nutrient for microorganism in
pond water. In the present investigation highest concentration of
phosphate was obtained during immersion i.e., 0.84 mg/L (Table
1). Increasing concentration of chloride in pond water bodies after
idols immersion is acts as an indicator of pollution19-20. Many
researchers reported that chloride concentration helped in
increasing the degree of eutrophication21-22. The present study
showed that chloride content was maximum 57.7 mg/L after 20
days immersion due to pollution.
Table 2. Water quality parameters at flow water of river
Ganga and pond water

Nitrogen is usually present in ponds as ammonia or nitrate, while

phosphorous occurs as phosphate. Ammonia usually originates
from idols wastes. It is extremely toxic to the environments
health. Both nitrogen and phosphorous can be readily used by
aquatic microbes which may lead to excessive growth. The
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decreasing of dissolved oxygen it may lead to anaerobic

condition.
3.2 Microbial Population and Idol immersion
Conventional dilution plat count method for microorganism on
semi-synthetic medium resulted in a mixed population. These
microbial groups were growing in oxygen and nutrients rich pond
water after idol immersion. The microbial population was
enumerated and given in Table 3. Results indicated higher
microbial load in Ganga Sarovar-II than Ganga Sarovar-I due to
large number of idols immersion. The microorganisms are not
detectable or not found in holy Ganga water after isol immersion
because decaying or eutrophication process are not possible in
flowing Ganga water. Stagnant Ganga Sarovar-I and Ganga
Nd= Not detectable
Sarovar-II along with immersed idols material are provide
nutrient rich environment for growing of aerobic and anaerobic
3.4 Effects of Idol Immersion on the Water Quality
microorganism which play key role to damaging environmental
The Major water pollution in the river water quality occurs due to
issues by production of dangerous intermediates, acids and
the direct discharge of municipal sewage both domestic and
harmful gases.
industrial without treatment. Mostly, 80 to 85 % of river water is
polluted by untreated municipal waste. The religious activities are
4
Table 3: Population of microorganism (x10 /mL).
responsible only 5 % of river water pollution due to less water
Immersion
quantity, water flow and aquatic animal population. Also in
addition to many industrial effluents now became a threat to the
lifeline of river water.
Traditionally, idol immersion activities are going on in India in
flowing water of rivers. After idol immersion in water, materials
which are used in idol making that do not dissolve slowly in the
flow of river water, thereby reducing the more oxygen level less.
Physicochemical characteristics are changed in the river water as
compared to pond water. The changes in the water quality
parameters in the pond water are due to idol immersion due to
3.3 Effects of Toxic Metals
When idols were immersed in natural Ganga water then paint microbial activities on idol materials.
materials slowly dissolved in water are diluted in comparison to If, rivers have enough water flow are not polluted and the
pond water. Those paints are easily dissolved into pond water immersion of idols during festivals is not a major source of
through several chemical and microbial reactions. The detail contamination and sedimentation to the river. The immersion of
results are shown in Table-4. These paints contain many toxic idols in artificial ponds particularly developed for this purpose by
metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and zinc etc. administration are dangerous due to high growth of microbial
Through food chain these toxic metals get into human bodies and populations and their attack on idols making organic, inorganic
also contaminate ground water by percolation process. and polymeric materials because idol making material are good
Particularly, Ganga bank sites percolation process is fast due to nutrient source for microorganism. After that many toxic
sandy soil. These toxic metals have lots of adverse effect on intermediates and metal ions are also produced in stagnant pond
underground water quality. The concentration of all investigated water. Enamel paint based modern process of making idols have
toxic metals is increased in both temporary pond water as major issue of toxicity and its bad impact on the environment and
compared to flowing Ganga water because in flowing condition is no accepted by Indian tradition.
toxic metals are diluted, disbursed and finally metal ions are An investigation was carried out to find out the comparative
combined with ions or attached with systems then settled down in effects of immersion of idols on water quality of the Ganga river
the form of sediments10, 23. While in stagnant pond water water and pond water by collecting and analyzing the water
concentration of toxic metals are continuously increased due to samples from the immersion sites. After analyzing the samples, it
absence of dilution/disbursion and microbial attack on metal was found that all parameters highly increased in temporary pond
containing paints and other biodegradable idols making materials water than river Ganga water, except DO (Table 2).
3.5 Eutrophication in Ganga Sarovar-I and II
Eutrophication arises from the oversupply of nutrients, which
Table 4. The concentration of heavy metals (g g-1) in water and induces explosive growth of plants and algae which, when such
organisms die, consume the oxygen from water body, thereby
pond water.
creating the state of hypoxia. Generally, the primary limiting
factor for eutrophication is phosphate. The availability of
phosphorus generally promotes excessive plant growth and decay,
favouring simple algae and plankton to grow over other more
(table 4)

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complicated plants, and causes a severe reduction in water
quality. Phosphorus is a necessary nutrient for plants to live, and
is the limiting factor for plant growth in many freshwater
ecosystems. The sources of this excess phosphate are detergents,
industrial/domestic run-off, and fertilizers which leads to
eutrophication.
In stagnant water system like pond, the idols materials are
converted into inorganic and organic components by microbial
activities. Decomposition process consumes oxygen, which
reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO). The
depleted oxygen concentration levels in turn may lead to creation
of anaerobic condition which invite to anaerobe. In the presence
of sufficient nutrients due to dissolving of idols materials, the
growth of aerobic and anaerobic microorganism directly effects
water quality of ponds (Figure 7).
Enhanced growth of aquatic vegetation or phytoplankton and
algal blooms disrupts normal functioning of the water quality
parameters. During eutrophication process, the water becomes
turbid due to production of others many complex intermediates by
green, yellow, brown, red and other colour causing elements.

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Conditions of the temporary ponds are show in Figure 6.

Eutrophication may cause competitive release by making
abundant a normally limiting nutrient. This process causes shifts
in the species composition of ecosystems. For example, anaerobes
frequently grow after depletion of dissolved oxygen which
utilized by aerobic microorganism. They are responsible for
aerobic reaction and produced acidic environment which is
corrosive in nature. Then sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric
acid, hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and carbonic acid are
produced through microbial attak in the present of sulfur,
phosphorous, nitrogen, chloride and carbon dioxide. In stagnant
pond water, all these acids are easily produced and play an
important role in degradation of idol materials which create
serious environmental problem.

Sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SRB): Thiobacillus spp. Autotropic

aerobic bacteria are commonly occurring in pond soil. They thrive
within 10 to 40 oC and at pH 1.5 to 8. Two main species involved
in microbial deterioration of idols in stagnant pond water are T.
thioporus and T thiooxidans. They are responsible for the
degradation of idols making material27. The chemical reaction by
3.6 Eutrophication in Natural Ganga Water
which these organisms oxidize sulfur and sulfates to sulfuric acid
Although eutrophication is commonly caused by human are as follows:
activities, it cannot found in a natural flow of water like river,
2H2S + 2O2
H2S2O3 + H2O
Paleolimnologists now recognise that climate change, geology,
5Na2S2O3 + 4O2 + H2O
5Na2SO4 + 5H2SO4 + 4S
and other external influences are critical in regulating the natural
productivity of lakes. The main difference between natural and
4S + 6O2 + 4H2O
4H2SO4
anthropogenic eutrophication is that the natural process is very Sulphate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio spp. They also thrive
slow or negligible, occurring on geological time scales.
within 4 to 40 oC and at pH 6 to 8. Desulfovibrio Desulforicans,
The huge amount paddy straw is used for making main shape of Desulfovibrio sapovorans, Desulfosarcins variabiei etc are
idols which is left after immersions in pond water are shown in newly identified sulfate reducing bacteria. The bacteria re-use
Figures 6 and 7. Chemical composition and nutritive quality of sulfate to sulphide and H2S produced according to following
paddy straw contains 32-43% cellulose, 19-25% hemicellulose, 5- reactions:
SO4-- + 4H2
S-- + 4H2
12% lignin, 18.8% ash (14-16%) and extractives (10-12%)24-25.
-+
S + 2H
H 2S
The compositions of paddy straw are shown in Table 5. The
In
the
same
fashion,
other
many acids are also produced by action
structural complexity of straw showed that it has good nutrients
26
of
Nitrate
Reducing
Bacteria
(NRB), Nitrate Oxidizing Bacteria
for enzymatic and microbial attacks .
(NOB)
Iron
Oxidizing
Bacteria
(NOB), etc which are responsible
Table 5. Chemical composition of rice straw.
for degradation of idols materials in pond water. All these
microbial reactions are not performed in flowing river water.
3.8 Seepage of Contaminated Water from Ganga Sarovar-I
Seepage is the slow escape of water through porous sandy soil of
Ganga river bank. Seepage generally occurs when the water
escapes vertically through the bottom of the temporary pond and
horizontal filtration of water through the temporary dykes. The
contaminated water is released through such conditions easily.
There are many factors that affects amount of seepage of
contaminated water from the Ganga Sarovar-I. The reasons
behind seepage are temporary sandy wall of the pond, good
slope, soil type, bedrock of dykes, volume and pressure of filled
water. New Ganga Sarovar-I release more seepage water than old
reservoirs. It is mainly due to the good soil structure of the new
pond. Soil particles bind together and form the soil structure. The
arrangement of soil pores between these particles influence the
water movement.
During investigation period, it was found that highly microbial
contaminated and toxic metal loaded water directly seeped out
into the main stream of holy Ganga river after 20 days (Figure 8).
3.7 Degradation of Idol Materials and Acid Production
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Because temporary pond was developed approximately 90 to 100 4. The idols immersion specific areas should be marked more
metres away from sandy bank of Ganga river with the help of
than 2 km away from natural water bodies.
sand filled cement packet and plastic film was used over the pond 5. Plaster of Paris idols should be banned by appropriate
for retaining filled water load. Either, due to unscientific
authorities.
conceptual idea represented by administration failed and toxic 6. After idol immersion, the recyclable articles should be taken
contaminated pond water seeped out by rupturing of plastic film
out from the contaminated pond water and should be
support and damaging the upstream of holy Ganga water and plan
scientifically treated and disposed off appropriately.
was not successfully executed by persons concerned (Figure 8).
5. REFERENCES
i. Rigveda, Swadhyay Mandal, Gujarat, India.
3.9 Destruction of Ganga Sarovar-II
ii. Manu Smtrity, Chaukhamba Prakasan, Varanasi, India.
On the basis of wrong advice by untrained people and due to lack
iii. P. V. Kane, 1965. Dharm Shastra ka Itihas, Hindi Santhan,
of knowledge, Ganga Sarovar-II was filled with soil by district
administration after 25 days of idol immersion for providing UP, India,.
iv. Baldeva Upahyay, 1983. Kashi ki Pandit Parampara,
space for Govardhan Pooja hosted by city development Visvavidyal Prakashan, Varanasi, India.
ministers program on 12.11.2015. Thus, whole contaminated
v. Kaur S and Joshi , 2003. Seasonal variation in some physicowater was directly drained out into main stream of river Ganga chemical parameters of river Ganga in and around Hardwar.
water (Figure 9).
Himalayan Journal of Zoology 17 45-55.
3.10 Immersion of Kali idol in contaminated pond
vi. Mishra BP and Tripathi BS , 2003. Seasonal variation in some
As per high court order, after twisting traditional value and physico-chemical parameters of river Ganga water as influenced by
public believe Kali idol is immersed in contaminated ancient sewage discharge. Indian Journal of Ecology 30 27-32.
vii. Nagarathna BN and Leelavathi S, 2008. Physico-chemical
valued Mandakini pond which is highly polluted by immersion of
characteristics
and phytoplankton of Hinakal lake, Mysore, Karnataka
other idols during Durga pooja (Figure 10). By immersing these
state. Journal of Current Science 12(1) 95-100.
idol in flowing water priests and common people feel energy and
viii. Reddy MV and Kumar VA, 2001. Effect of Ganesh Idol
this has taken as a tradition on such auspicious occasions.
Immersion on some water quality parameter of Hussainsagar. Current
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Science 81(11) 1412.
The major findings of the investigation revealed that the water
ix. Shukla SC, Tripathi BD, Mishra BP and Chadhurvedi SS,
quality of temporary pond water degraded or highly contaminated 1992. Physicochemical and bacteriological properties of the water of
after the immersion of idols due to microbial activities as compare river Ganga at Gazipur. Comparative Physiology and Ecology 17 92to flowing Ganga river water. The higher concentration of 96.
x. Bajpai A., Pani S., Jain R.K., Mishra S.M. 2003. Heavy metal
parameters studied is probably due to heavy pollution load after
concentration
through idol immersion in a tropical lake, Eco. Env. And
the immersions, resulting in the deterioration of the Ganga
Cons., 8(2), 157-159.
Sarovar-I and II water which creates major ground water
xi. Ahipati MV and Puttiah ET. 2006. Ecological Characteristics
contamination and secondary definite major cause of holy Ganga of Vrishabhavathi River in Bangalore (India). Environmental Geology
river pollution. Therefore, it is suggested that the environmentalist 49 1217-1222.
which advice to all appropriate authorities should maintain
xii. Sawant RS, Telare AB, Desai PD and Desai JS, 2010.
sufficient (natural flow of river) river water flow, conduct Variations in Hydro biological characteristics of Atyal Pond in
environmental awareness programs, particularly before the Gandhinglaj tahsil, Dist. Kolhapur, (M. S.) India. Nature Environment
festival to educate the idol makers, pooja samiti and public of the and Pollution Technology 1 97-101.
xiii. Sayewara HA, Naik KL and Mahesh AG , 2010. Monthly
cities and make them aware of the harmful environmental effects
variations
Physico-chemical parameters of River Tunga, Shivamogga,
of immersion of idols in flowing water. Moreover, construction of
Karnataka. Ecology and Fisheries 3(2) 87-92.
such temporary immersion ponds should be planned after on
xiv. J. I. L. Morison, 1993. Response of plants to CO 2 under
equivalent case study. This model failed possibly due to absence water limited conditions, Volume 104, , pp 193-209
of any such case study. The water quality of ponds is damage
xv. 15, Sarkar R., 2013. Study on the impact of idol immersion
completely by idol immersion and without treatment it is not on water quality of river ganga at
useful for any purposes. The objective of present study is to
xvi. Ranighat, Chandernagore (W.B.). International Journal of
provide sufficient scientific facts for decision making authorities Geology, Earth & Environmental Sciences. 3(3), 24-29.
xvii. Hostetti B.B., Kul Karni A.R., Patil H.S., 1994. India Journal
for creating human values based another direction and scientific
Environmental
Health 36(2)
arrangements which fulfil humanity based requirements. On the
xviii. 124-127
basis of present investigation following suggestions are
xix. 17 Kaur B.J., George. M.P., Mishra S., 2013. Water quality
recommended for immersion of idols in water bodies after assessment of river Yamuna in
completing rituals.
xx. Delhi stretch during Idol immersion. International Journal of
1. Natural environmental flow should be maintains without Environmental Sciences.
interruptions which are essential required processes to
xxi. 3(6), 2122-2130.
support healthy river ecosystem.
xxii. 18 Zafar A and Sultana N, 2008. Seasonal analysis in the water
2. Essentially, use of Ganga basin soil, eco-friendly biodegradable quality of the river Ganga. Current Science 12(1) 217-220.
xxiii. 19. Dhamijia SK and Jain Y, 1995. Studies on the water quality
materials and natural colours for idols making should be
encouraged and are allowed for immersion into flowing index of a lentic waterbody at Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh. Polluting and
Research Consultancy 14(3) 341-34
natural bodies.
xxiv. 20. Vyas A and Bajpai A., 2008. Water quality survey and
3. Temporary pond near river bank should not be made.
monitoring study of idol immersion in context of lower Lake Bhopal
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ISSN:2277-1581
01 Jan.2016

India. In: Proceedings of tall 2007: the 12th World Lake congress
edited by Sen Gupta M and Dalwani R 1818-1823.
xxv. 21. Malik GM, Raval VH, Zadafiya SK and Patel AV , 2012.
Idol immersion and Physico-Chemical properties of South Gujrat
Rivers India. Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2(3) 21-25.
xxvi. 22. Chatterjee C and Raziuddin M, 2002. Determination of
water quality index (WQI) of a degraded river in Asansol industrial
area (W.B.). Ecology of polluted water II Ed. Arvind Kumar A.P.H.
Publishing Corporation, New Delhi.
xxvii. 23. Leland, H.V., 1991. Transport and distribution of trace
elements in a watershed ecosystem
xxviii. in environment. Boggess, W.R., and Wixsion, B.G. Eds. Castle
House Publication, pp. 105-134.
xxix. 24. Kargbo, F.R., Xing, J. and Zhang, Y. ,2009. Pretreatment
for energy use of rice straw: a review. African Journal of Agricultural
Figure 3 : Wounds on the body of Vedic students who were
Research 4: 30-40.
xxx. 25. Yoswathana, N. and Phuriphipat, P., 2010. Bioethanol victim of lathicharge by the police at Godowlia (Ganesh
production from rice straw. Energy Research Journal 1: 26-31.
Chauk), Varanasi ( midnight of 22/10/2015)
xxxi. 26. Balasubramanian, M.K., 2013. Potential utilization of rice
straw for ethanol production by sequential fermentation of cellulose
and xylose using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pachysolen
tannophilus. International Journal of Science, Engineering, Technology
and Research 2: 1531-1535.
xxxii. 27. R S Dubey and S N Upadhyay, 2004. Microbiologically
influenced corrosion, Concise Encyclopedia of Bioresource Technoly, A
K PandeyThe Harworth Reference Press, New York,.123-133.

(A)
(B)
Figure 4: Temporary pond filled by holy Ganga water (A)
Ganga Sarovar-I (B) Ganga Sarovar-II. (Before idol
immersion).

Figure 1: Temporary pond constructed by district

administration and named as Ganga Sarovar on bank of
Ganga river.

(A)
(B)
Figure 2: Temporary pond constructed by district
administration near Ganga river bank after receiving high
court order (A) Ganga Sarovar-I (B) Ganga Sarovar-II

Figure 5: Site map. Ganga Sarovar-I (GS-I) and Ganga

Sarovar-II (GS-II)
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Volume No.5 Issue No.1, pp: 1-9

ISSN:2277-1581
01 Jan.2016

(A)
(B)
Figure 6: Observation of temporary pond near Ganga river
bank after idols immersion by investigator (A) Ganga
Sarovar-I (B) Ganga Sarovar-II. (After 20 days)
Figure 9 : Filling of temporary Ganga sarovar-II by re-using
stored sandy soil of pond after 20 days of idol immersion and
directly draining out contaminated water in the main stream
of Ganga river.

Figure 7: Idols making materials left in and around

temporary pond water after 20 days

Figure 10: Immersed of Kali idol in contaminated (semi-dead)

water of Mandakini pond at Varanasi dated 14.11.20015.

Figure 8 : Seepage of contaminated water in main stream of

holy Ganga river and coloured appearance is indicating toxic
metal presence

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