Bangla Sahib says no to plastic

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 8

Gurdwara Bangla Sahib,  one of the  oldest Sikh institution  in India   has decided to go green by banning  use of all type of  plastic in holy shrine complex to commemorate    550th birth anniversary of founder of Sikh religion Guru Nanak Dev,  said Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managment Committee here today.

The biggest heritage  Sikh shrines situated in heart of National Capital  New Delhi  has banned   disposable plates, glasses, spoons, thermocoal cup plates etc and switched  to steel bowls for serving clean drinking water and steel plates for serving langar (community food)   to visiting devotees.

On an average around 5,000 poly bags/thermocoal cup plates  used  to distribute prasad/ fruits etc  to devotees  daily  has now been replaced with eco-friendly jute bags or  ‘bowls’ made out of leaves. DSGMC has set up  recycling  plant    capable of handling 2 tonnes of flower,  langar waste on a daily basis.

Bangla Sahib built by Sikh General Bhagel Singh Dhaliwal in 1783   during the reign of Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam is visited by  around 75,000 devotees daily  in normal days.

The DSGMC has completely  shifted to clean  piped natural gas  fuel for preparing langar for around 35,000  persons  daily and has further  banned use of wood  charcoal etc for preparing langar in its complex by various social and charitable organisations who separately cooks and distribute community food on important religious occasions.