When Celebration Meets Responsibility
Maddox Square’s Journey Towards a Zero-Waste Puja
The rhythmic beats of the dhak echoed across Maddox Square. Devotees streamed into one of Kolkata’s most beloved Durga Puja destinations, their faces lit with excitement and devotion. Amid the vibrant colours, festive gatherings and sacred rituals of Saptami, another message quietly found its place in the heart of the celebration, a message about responsibility, sustainability and the future of the city.
On 17 October 2026, Maddox Square became more than a venue for worship and festivities. It emerged as a living example of how community spirit can transform one of Kolkata’s largest cultural gatherings into a platform for environmental awareness.
The occasion was the Clean Green Kolkata Puja Initiative, a collective effort designed to encourage cleaner, greener and more sustainable Durga Puja celebrations. While the city rejoiced in its annual festival, volunteers, students, community leaders and Rotarians came together with a shared vision: to inspire citizens to rethink the way festival waste is managed.
Dressed in campaign T-shirts and driven by purpose, Rotary volunteers spread across the pandal precincts, engaging visitors in conversations about environmental responsibility. Their enthusiasm was matched by the youthful energy of students from La Martiniere for Girls, Kolkata and Queen of Peace Church, as well as young bloggers who lent fresh voices to the campaign.
The initiative was jointly spearheaded by the Rotary Club of Calcutta Metro South, Rotary Club of Calcutta Renaissance, and Rotary Club of Calcutta Millennium, with support from Rotarians representing several clubs across the district. The effort reflected a growing recognition that environmental stewardship is most effective when communities work together.
A significant moment of the day came with the presence of Shekhar Mehta, former President of Rotary International, who visited the Maddox Square pandal, offered prayers to Goddess Durga and expressed his support for the environmental movement. His participation reinforced the importance of integrating sustainability into large-scale cultural celebrations. Joining him was District Governor Nominee Brotindro Mullick, who also shared his thoughts on the initiative’s relevance in today’s rapidly changing urban landscape.
For the organisers, the campaign was never just about cleanliness. It was about changing mindsets.
Representatives of the Maddox Square Puja Committee, Kalyan Dhaal and Animesh Chattopadhyay, extended their wholehearted support, emphasising the vital role that cooperation between community organisations and Puja committees can play in creating lasting environmental impact.
Behind the initiative stood the vision and planning of dedicated Rotary members, including Rotarian Rajashree Guha of the Rotary Club of Calcutta Metro South and Rotarian Soumeyendu Ganguli of the Rotary Club of Calcutta Renaissance. They were joined by several committed Rotarians, including Rtn. Sabyasachi Hajara, Past President of the Rotary Club of Calcutta Metro South, and Rtn. Sunita Shah of the Rotary Club of Calcutta Millennium, all united by the belief that meaningful change begins with awareness and action.
The event also drew the participation of well-known social influencer Imran Zaki, who highlighted the power of public engagement and collective responsibility in addressing environmental challenges. His message resonated with many young visitors who stopped by the campaign’s awareness stall, where volunteers interacted with families, students and festival-goers throughout the afternoon.
The stall became a vibrant meeting point where generations connected over a common concern for the environment. Senior Rotarians exchanged ideas with young volunteers, while children eagerly participated and received gifts sponsored by Rotary Calcutta Mega City, adding a touch of joy and encouragement to the initiative.
Yet, beneath the enthusiasm lay a simple but powerful concept: segregation must begin at the source.
Every year, Durga Puja generates significant quantities of floral offerings and biodegradable materials. When mixed with general waste, these resources are often lost. However, when collected and segregated properly, they can be transformed into valuable products such as compost and incense, reducing environmental burden while creating a circular and sustainable waste-management system.
The message was clear. Protecting Kolkata’s environment is not the responsibility of a single organisation, institution or civic body. It is a shared duty that belongs to every citizen, every Puja committee, every volunteer and every young person who dreams of a cleaner future.
As evening descended on Maddox Square and the festive lights began to glow brighter, the campaign left behind more than awareness. It left behind a vision, one where tradition and sustainability walk hand in hand.
In a city where Durga Puja is not merely a festival but an emotion, initiatives like Clean Green Kolkata Puja demonstrate that cultural celebrations can also become powerful instruments of positive change. The Saptami gathering at Maddox Square was a reminder that a cleaner, greener Kolkata begins with small actions, collective effort and a willingness to think beyond the present.
Clean Green Kolkata Puja
Let Segregation Start at the Source. Let Us Create an Everlasting Impact.
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