In an effort to maintain cleanliness within temple premises, the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation has embarked on a project to produce incense sticks by processing flowers offered to deities in all temples in the holy city.
The Municipal Corporation plans to process the substantial quantity of flowers expected to be offered during the Pran Pratistha ceremony. Even after the conclusion of the Pran Pratistha program, the Municipal Corporation will continue to make incense sticks with the flowers used in the temple premises.
This processing initiative also serves as a means to provide employment opportunities for women in the self-help groups. According to estimates, after the Pran Pratishtha, a remarkable 9 metric tons of flower waste are expected to be recycled daily from all the temples of Ayodhya Dham, a significant increase from the current 2.3 metric tons.
Vishal Singh, Vice Chairman, Ayodhya Development Authority, said that Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram, attracts numerous pilgrims annually who contribute to the generation of tons of floral waste by offering flowers in temples. To address this, the authorities have implemented a system where the collected flowers are sorted and transformed into certified natural incense sticks daily.
With an anticipated daily influx of 22 lakh devotees to Ayodhya Dham, there is a concerted effort to ensure that these flowers do not result in waste within the temples and shrines.
Vineet Pathak, OSD to ADA Vice President, said that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched bamboo-free incense made from flowers offered in Ayodhya’s temples on October 21, 2023. He credited the success of this project to the support and guidance provided by the Uttar Pradesh Government, Ayodhya Municipal Corporation, and the Namami Gange Programme.
The responsibility for this environmentally friendly initiative has been entrusted to the organization named ‘Phool,’ which has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation for the collection and recycling of flower waste.
To enhance accessibility, Phool has launched these products on the Q-Com platform and various digital platforms, ensuring a quicker availability for the daily puja rituals of millions of Indians. This initiative not only addresses environmental concerns but also offers a sustainable and fragrant option for religious practices.
The recycling capacity is set to increase significantly to nine metric tons of floral waste per day, providing employment opportunities for 275 women. Beyond waste management, efforts will be made to enhance the visitor experience.
Plans include facilitating tours for visitors to witness the agarbatti-making process, offering opportunities to learn the methodology, and establishing experience centers where handmade agarbattis can be acquired.
Additionally, with the growing number of pilgrims, there are plans to establish a larger plant to accommodate the increased demand for flower recycling, further contributing to sustainable practices and employment opportunities in Ayodhya Dham.
Flowers are being collected from these temples on daily basis:
• Hanuman Garhi
• Kanak Bhavan
• Nageshwar Nath Temple
• Shri Kale Ram Temple
• Gore Ram Mandir
• Badi Devkali Temple
• Chhoti Devkali Temple
• Swaminarayan Temple, Kanak Bhawan Temple
• Flower collection from Prabhu Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple from January 22.