Summary:
CHENNAI: For The Bengal Association in T Nagar, the run-up to this year's Durga Puja has been exceptionally busy. After years of contemplating how to make the puja plastic-free, the association decided to make its dining area - usually the highest generator of plastic waste according to its secretary Soumya Guha Thakurta - completely eco-friendly this year. "Even the deity is adorned with 'shola pith', (a milky-white sponge-wood that is similar in texture to thermocol, but a natural alternative). It has been a conscious choice and we are planning to make the deity entirely with organic products in the coming years," says the association's assistant secretary, Subhajit Patra. And the Bengali community in the city is doing its bit to address this issue by customizing everything from the cutlery to the decor to be eco-friendly this year..