Durga Puja in the Shadow of Smoke: Why Scrapping Old Vehicles is the Only Shubho Arambho

Durga Puja is more than just a festival-it’s an emotion that unites every Bengali across the world. As the city gears up with illuminated pandals, dhak beats, and the fragrance of dhunuchi smoke, one tradition stands strong: renewal before Maa Durga’s arrival. Homes are cleaned, walls repainted, and streets decorated to welcome the Goddess with purity and positivity. Yet, amid this celebration of freshness, Bengal’s streets often remain choked with smoke from old, polluting vehicles. This raises an important question: How can we truly honour the spirit of Durga Puja if the air we breathe remains toxic? The answer lies in vehicle scrapping, the real Shubho Arambho (auspicious beginning) for Bengal’s sustainable future.

Festive Cleanliness & Renewal

Every Bengali household prepares for Durga Puja by removing the old and bringing in the new. Dusty furniture is polished, broken items discarded, and houses are transformed to radiate positivity. This ritual of renewal isn’t just about aesthetics; it symbolises cleansing the soul and surroundings before welcoming the Goddess.

Similarly, Bengal’s roads need a ritual of renewal. Scrapping old vehicles, which emit harmful smoke and clog our streets, can bring the same freshness to our environment that home cleaning brings to our households. Just as cobwebs are wiped away, phasing out unfit vehicles clears the path for cleaner air and safer mobility.

Symbolism of Shubho Arambho (Auspicious Beginning)

Durga Puja is also the festival of new beginnings. Families buy new clothes, businesses open new ledgers, and communities look forward to better days. This spirit of Shubho Arambho is deeply rooted in letting go of what no longer serves us.

Old vehicles are exactly that, symbols of the past that now harm more than help. By scrapping them, we make way for progress, safety, and sustainability. Just as we wouldn’t celebrate Puja with clutter and decay, we shouldn’t let our streets remain burdened with vehicles that poison the air. Vehicle scrapping is not just a policy; it is the modern-day equivalent of starting anew with purity.

Modern-Day Relevance

While festive traditions remain timeless, modern challenges demand modern solutions. Old vehicles are one of the biggest contributors to air pollution in West Bengal, releasing toxic emissions that affect lungs, visibility, and even the climate. They also cause frequent breakdowns, accidents, and traffic congestion.

The Indian Vehicle Scrappage Policy offers a solution:

• Financial incentives for scrapping old vehicles

• Tax benefits on purchasing new ones

• Reduced pollution and cleaner air

• Better fuel efficiency and road safety

In essence, scrapping vehicles aligns perfectly with the festive value of renewal and purity, ensuring that Bengal’s future is as bright as its pandals.

Emotional & Social Angle

Durga Puja is as much about community pride as it is about devotion. The joy of seeing clean streets decorated with alponas and lights is unmatched. But imagine this beauty being overshadowed by smoke-filled air and noisy, unfit vehicles, a contradiction to the very spirit of the festival.

By scrapping old vehicles, we extend our devotion to Maa Durga into our responsibility towards the environment. It’s not just about aesthetics; it’s about safeguarding the health and happiness of future generations. A clean, breathable Bengal is the greatest offering we can collectively make.

The True Shubho Arambho

As Bengalis, we take pride in preparing our homes, streets, and hearts for Maa Durga every year. But this Puja season, let’s extend that preparation to our cities. Scrapping old vehicles is not just an environmental necessity; it is the true Shubho Arambho for a Bengal that is cleaner, greener, and safer.

Let’s not celebrate Puja in the shadow of smoke. Instead, let’s welcome Maa Durga with streets that breathe freshness, just like our homes do. Because a cleaner Bengal is the most auspicious beginning we can gift ourselves and generations to come.