Swachh Sandesh Yatra concludes

A 47-day 14,000-km journey across the country to spread the message of conscious and responsible pilgrimage concluded here on Wednesday.

A seven-member team undertook the Swachh Sandesh Yatra by visiting over 100 pilgrimage centres in the country in 21 States. Stressing the need for pilgrimages to be environment-friendly, the yatra sought to involve thousands of pilgrims flocking to Sabarimala every year in the ‘Punyam Poonkavanam’ activities.

Pollution at Sabarimala

Sabarimala, a spiritual centre, is also environmentally significant. However, the rush of pilgrims has been taking a heavy toll on its environment. Mounds of plastic waste is left behind by pilgrims, and its disposal is mostly unscientific.

The Punyam Poonkavanam campaign aims at promoting a culture of no-waste at Sabarimala by promoting a seven-point formula.

Pilgrims are urged to desist from bringing waste, especially plastic, and encouraged to take back home whatever waste is generated during the pilgrimage, rather than leave it behind.

Sreekumar Menon, one of those who took part in the yatra, said Punyam Poonkavanam, the brainchild of Inspector General of Police P. Vijayan, had made a huge difference.

The yatra was aimed at reaching out to people in other States travelling to Sabarimala to impress upon them the need to be environment-friendly during their visit.

Spirit of pilgrimage

Mr. Vijayan called for pilgrims to introspect how their activities contributed to the waste generated there, against the spirit of the pilgrimage.

The land, the air, and the water were at threat, and it was up to each individual to do what they could to preserve it, at Sabarimala and in other places of worship, he said.

The all-religion Swachh yatra team members – Mr. Menon, Jayesh Thampan, Sandeep Sebastian, Ramesh Jose, Abhi P. Mahin, Manu, and Mohankumar – were felicitated on the occasion. Corporation councillor B. Suresh, Gururethan Jnan Thapaswi of Santhigiri Ahsram, and Palayam Imam Maulavi Suhaib V.P. spoke.