Festivities from the perspective of climate change: Durga Puja in Kolkata

Durga Puja is one of Kolkata’s most celebrated cultural festivals, but its environmental impact raises growing concerns about plastic pollution and waste management. In this blog, ISS alum Ashok Kumar Nayak examines the challenges posed by single-use plastics during the festivities and the efforts being made to address them. Drawing on his experience as a development professional in India, he highlights the importance of public awareness, institutional responsibility and collective action. He calls for a greener Durga Puja that preserves the spirit of celebration while protecting the environment.

The outcome of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee’s discussions on the Global Plastics Treaty on 15 August 2025 was a major disappointment, raising concerns about the world’s preparedness to combat plastic pollution. Representatives from 184 countries gathered in Geneva for the second part of the fifth session to develop a framework for the treaty. However, the negotiations also revealed the political interests and challenges that shape international environmental governance.

One important dimension of tackling plastic pollution, however, is citizen action. With around eight billion people in the world, individual and collective efforts have the potential to make a significant difference.

The world produces over 450 million tonnes of plastic annually, and plastic waste is now everywhere, damaging our forests, soil, water and air. Microplastics find their way into animals, plants, fruits and human bodies. Plastics have infiltrated every corner of the world – contaminating the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. Plastic is a major contributor to global warming. Thermocol is another non-biodegradable material that can take hundreds of years to break down and causes environmental damage similar to that of plastic. Studies have also raised concerns about its potential health effects.

Plastic pollution increases during major festive seasons, such as Ganpati in Mumbai, Durga Puja in Kolkata, Diwali, Chhath Puja, Christmas and New Year celebrations. These festivals bring significant spikes in single-use plastic pollution. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) collects between 1,200 and 1,500 tonnes of festival waste during the event, a considerable portion of which includes non-biodegradable single-use plastic wrapping, packaging and thermocol (polystyrene) decorations.

Festivities and pollution

Nowadays, festivities must be celebrated with greater awareness of environmental concerns, ranging from noise and air pollution to water and plastic pollution. In India, major public festivals include Ganpati in Mumbai and Durga Puja in Kolkata. Firecrackers during Diwali and New Year celebrations contribute to severe air pollution.

Chhath Puja sparks debates about water pollution, while the widespread use of loud music played by DJs has raised concerns about noise pollution and its potential health effects. Unfortunately, festivities often come with a heavy environmental cost.

This article focuses specifically on the issues surrounding plastic pollution during Durga Puja in Kolkata.

Kolkata has a population of 15.84 million, ranking 16th among the world’s 20 most populous cities. Kolkata’s Durga Puja has been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity for its profound artistic merit. Around 3,000 pujas are organized across Kolkata, and festival attendance exceeds 2 million people. The collective economy of Durga Puja in 2025 was estimated at around ₹50,000 crore, creating employment opportunities for three lakh people. Furthermore, the festival contributed 2.58% to West Bengal’s GDP in the 2019–2020 financial year.

However, the celebrations also generate substantial waste due to the widespread use of banned single-use plastics and Styrofoam plates and glasses.

West Bengal banned plastic bags thinner than 75 microns in 2021. Nevertheless, thermocol and Styrofoam have become increasingly popular because they are lightweight, inexpensive and convenient. Puja pandals, food chains and small eateries widely use thermocol plates and glasses. The indiscriminate disposal of polystyrene foam plates, PET bottles, cutlery and single-use plastic packaging is widespread during the festival, while the environmental consequences of this waste are often overlooked.

Plastic pollution during Durga Puja poses numerous challenges for the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). According to KMC, the city generates an average of 4,000 tonnes of waste on a regular day, a figure that reportedly doubles during Durga Puja celebrations. Around 70 per cent of this festival waste is plastic.

Another major source of pollution is the PVC banners displayed across the city during the festival. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) asks puja organizers to dispose of these banners properly through approved recyclers. However, few puja organizers appear to prioritize reducing plastic pollution or ensuring responsible waste disposal.

Although many large, popular puja pandals adopt themes centred on environmental and climate change concerns, these efforts are often limited to elaborate creative decorations rather than sustainable practices.

Efforts toward greener solutions

Efforts have previously been made by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), in collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs), to raise awareness of greener approaches to the festival.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) made notable strides in solid waste management last year. KMC installed a plastic waste processing plant with a capacity of two tonnes per day (TPD) and another thermocol processing plant. A material recovery facility (MRF) with a capacity of 100 TPD has also been installed.

WBPCB has been issuing directives to police and district authorities to combat plastic pollution during the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. WBPCB has instructed the authorities to maintain strict surveillance of the manufacture, import, sale, distribution and disposal of banned single-use plastic (SUP) items.

Many civil society groups, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and schools have also engaged in campaigns against pollution. Students from various prominent schools participate in evaluating pandals against different environmental standards to present an award called the ‘Puja Utkarsh Samman’.

Towards a plastic-free Durga Puja

The solution lies in people internalizing the importance of these environmental concerns and taking transformative action, thereby assuming personal responsibility for the cause. Durga Puja presents an excellent opportunity to raise public awareness and mobilize collective action.

A well-designed campaign, supported by effective public communication and targeting all stakeholders in the supply chain – from production to consumption – could encourage behavioural change among individuals and prompt institutional action by authorities.

Puja committees have a vital opportunity to take a proactive role. Civil society organizations (CSOs), corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, student groups and environmental campaign groups such as Sabuja Mancha could lead a campaign under the banner of ‘Plastic-Free Puja’, with the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) and Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) acting as facilitators.

Authorities could also strengthen communication about compliance with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) provisions, which hold manufacturers, brand owners and importers responsible for the collection and recycling of plastic waste associated with their products⁸.

Turning awareness into action

Several practical steps could help make Durga Puja celebrations more environmentally sustainable.

• Institutional commitment: KMC and WBPCB could jointly commit to making the festival free from plastic and thermocol.
• Ward-level engagement: Councillors across Kolkata’s 144 wards could distribute campaign leaflets and tailored messages during morning waste collection to encourage individual action.
• Public announcements: Awareness messages and warnings could be broadcast regularly through public address systems at puja pandals.
• Vendor outreach: Leaflets highlighting the consequences of violating plastic regulations could be distributed to eateries and stall owners around the pandals.
• Eco-friendly selfie corners: Pandals could create decorated, environmentally friendly selfie corners featuring pledges against plastic pollution to engage visitors.
• Media campaigns: WBPCB and KMC could broadcast awareness messages through popular television and FM radio channels during the festival.
• Vendor Recognition: Stalls and eateries using biodegradable materials should receive official appreciation and recognition.
• Biodegradable Prasad Distribution: Puja committees should strictly use biodegradable materials, such as leaf plates, for distributing Khichdi and Prasad.
• Sourcing Sustainable Alternatives: Alternative leaf plates can be procured from rural tribal areas like Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura, and West Medinipur. This supports the household economy of tribal families while serving an environmental cause.
• Source Segregation: Waste segregation at the source should be aggressively promoted to ease the process of recycling and converting waste into useful products.

Hopefully, Kolkata will show the world how to host a responsible, progressive and grand public festival. Let us make a commitment this Puja to avoid plastic and demonstrate Kolkata’s commitment to addressing this vital global concern.

About the author:

Ashok Kumar Nayak is a development professional working across multiple states in India his work spans project management, research, and advocacy on critical development issues, including Gender, Rural Livelihoods, Agri-food system, Climate chang…he writes article on this issue. Currently working as Sr. Manager Operation at TechnoServe. based in Maharashtra. Ashok did MA in from ISS in 2023-04 with specialization Rural Livelihoods and Global Changes