India is characterized by a plethora of cultural and religious festivities, a reflection of the nation’s extensive cultural legacy. The present research focused on the assessment of water quality in Ponneri Lake, particularly in relation to idol immersion. Water samples were collected pre, during and post immersion activities associated with the Ganesh festival in the months of August and September for the years 2024 and 2025, and were subjected to analysis for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and various water quality parameters. The samples were treated using natural fiber media, specifically Cocos nucifera and Luffa acutangula. In the year 2024, the efficacy of TSS removal was recorded at 49.11% for Cocos nucifera and 65.14% for Luffa acutangula. Likewise, in the year 2025, the TSS removal efficiencies were determined to be 53.92% and 65.03% for Cocos nucifera and Luffa acutangula respectively. In Statistical analysis the observed difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.332 > 0.05). The average TSS values for groups one and two were found to be 53.92 and 65.03, respectively. Correspondingly, the standard deviations for these groups were 3.40 and 4.16. The innovative application of Luffa acutangula is anticipated to yield superior TSS removal compared to Cocos nucifera. The water quality of the lake is compromised as a result of idol immersion practices, which is evidenced by the notable alterations in water quality metrics observed during the investigation. The environmental degradation resulting from idol immersion in aquatic ecosystems can be mitigated to some extent through the adoption of environmentally sustainable religious practices.
Ganesan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.