3 weeks ago
Bombay HC Asks If Scriptures Mandate PoP Idol Immersion
Some people in India celebrate festivals by putting big statues of gods into water.
Many of these statues are made of a material called Plaster of Paris, which can dirty and pollute the water.
A court in Mumbai, called the Bombay High Court, is trying to figure out what to do about this.
The judges asked a big question: does any Hindu holy book say these statues must be dipped in natural water?
People who make the statues suggested a compromise.
Instead of putting the whole statue in the water, worshippers could just touch its feet to the water.
Then the statue could be taken away and recycled.
But some festival groups said no, because they believe their religious rules do not allow this symbolic dipping.
One lawyer said the holy books were written about 3,000 years ago, before Plaster of Paris even existed.
The judges have asked both sides to show if any holy book supports putting these statues in water.
The court will keep listening to both sides on Wednesday.
The Bombay High Court questioned whether any Hindu scripture requires immersion of Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols in natural water bodies.
The court is hearing petitions seeking implementation of the 2020 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines banning PoP idol immersion in natural water bodies.
The petitions also challenge the Maharashtra government's August 1, 2025 immersion guidelines, which permit PoP idols over six feet in natural water bodies and smaller ones in artificial ponds.
PoP idol-makers, via senior advocate S.M. Gorwadkar, proposed symbolic immersion where devotees touch the idol's feet to water before civic authorities take it to collection or recycling centres.
Ganesh mandals, represented by advocate Uday Warunjikar, opposed symbolic immersion, saying Dharma Shastra does not permit it; the court will continue hearing arguments on Wednesday.
The CPCB clarified that its guidelines on PoP idol immersion are only 'advisory,' according to the idol-makers' counsel.
- Who
- A bench of Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata of the Bombay High Court, hearing PoP idol-makers, Ganesh mandals, and petitioners over CPCB pollution guidelines.
- What
- The court questioned whether any Hindu scripture mandates immersion of PoP idols in natural water bodies, while considering symbolic immersion as an alternative.
- Where
- Bombay High Court, Mumbai.
- When
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026, with arguments continuing on Wednesday.
- Why
- To address water pollution caused by immersion of Plaster of Paris idols and seek implementation of CPCB guidelines.
Environmental Protection
Religious Tradition
Method of immersion
Environmental Protection
PoP idol-makers suggest symbolic immersion—touching the idol's feet to water and then sending it to collection or recycling centres—to prevent pollution under Article 51A(g) of the Constitution.
Religious Tradition
Ganesh mandals, represented by Akhil Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti Maharashtra, oppose symbolic immersion, stating 'Dharma Shastra does not permit symbolic visarjan.'
Scriptural mandate for PoP immersion
Environmental Protection
The court and idol-makers question whether any scripture specifically requires PoP idols to be immersed in natural water bodies, noting PoP did not exist when scriptures were written.
Religious Tradition
Ganesh mandals maintain the immersion practice is rooted in tradition; their counsel noted scriptures were written around 3,000 years ago when PoP did not exist and idols were still immersed.
Key facts
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Bench
- Justices Ajey Gadkari and Kamal Khata
- CPCB guidelines
- 2020 guidelines banning PoP idol immersion in natural water bodies (clarified as 'advisory')
- Maharashtra guidelines
- Issued August 1, 2025; permits PoP idols over six feet in natural water bodies and smaller ones in artificial ponds
- Proposed alternative
- Symbolic immersion for larger idols, touching feet to water, then collection or recycling by civic authorities
- Constitutional provision cited
- Article 51A(g) of the Constitution (environmental protection duty)
- First hearing date
- August 11, 2026 (Tuesday)
- Next hearing
- Wednesday
Quotes
Advocate Uday Warunjikar
Legal counsel for Akhil Sarvajanik Utsav Samiti Maharashtra
“Show us any one of the scriptures which says that a PoP idol has to be immersed in water.”
freepressjournal.in
“Dharma Shastra does not permit symbolic visarjan.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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