Joining the movement against use of plastic items, one of the biggest Sikh shrines located in the heart of the city has banned its use. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and 11 other iconic gurudwara in the city will no longer be allowed any kind of plastic items in the shrine complex.
The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Committee declared a ban on single-use plastic and thermocol items like plates, spoons, glasses and polythene bags. This has already been implemented at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib from October 2 onwards.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), was reported as saying that, ‘On an average, around 5,000 poly bags and thermocol cup-plates were used every day to distribute prasad, fruits and other items to devotees. Now these have been replaced with eco-friendly jute bags, and dona-pattal (leaf bowls and plates).’
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What’s more?
This is not the first time that DSGMC has taken a step to promote eco-friendly solutions. They have also set up a recycling plant that handles over two tonnes of langar waste, used flowers on a daily basis that the devotees bring to the temple. ‘This organic waste is converted into manure and vermicompost. The fully automated plant has been commissioned on experimental basis at present to experiment with the zero-waste model and will be commissioned on full scale during the current month,’ Sirsa added while talking about the upcoming projects in the pipeline.
The committee is now adopted a new measure to prepare for the langar which involve clean piped natural gas. They have banned use of wood and charcoal and manage to serve around 35,000 people on a daily basis.
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The other gurudwara where the ban is now being implemented are Rakabganj Sahib, Moti Bagh Sahib, Sis Ganj Sahib, to name a few. It was reported that this decision was taken as a part of programmes that were being implemented to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji.