Bangla Sahib Gurdwara bans single-use plastic - Delhi’s famous Update

The next time you visit the famous Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Connaught Place in New Delhi, there won’t be any plastic plate or spoon in view to serve you the food. Reportedly, one of the biggest Sikh shrines in India, Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, has taken a decision to put a complete ban on the usage of single-use plastic. The call was taken recently by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Committee.

In fact, about 11 more Gurudwaras in Delhi will completely stop using all types of plastic items within their premises.

According to the news reports, single-use plastic and thermocol items like glasses, plates, spoons and polythene bags would also be banned. The decision has been implemented at the gurudwara starting from October 2, 2019.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), told the press that about 5000 poly bags and thermocol cup-plates were used every day to serve fruits and other edible items to the visitors. However, the Gurudwara management has started using eco-friendly jute bags, leaf bowls, and plates for serving food now.

In addition, a recycling plant has also been established by the Gurudwara Committee to recycle a large amount of langar waste and used flowers that are offered at the shrine by the devotees. The organic waste is transformed into manure and vermicompost.

The committee has now adopted a new measure to prepare for the langar, which involves clean, piped natural gas. The gurudwara officials have replaced wood and charcoal with clean-piped natural gas to prepare food for 35000 people daily.

Gurudwara Bangla Sahib is associated with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan. It was originally a palace owned by Raja Jai Singh, who later constructed a pond over a well which was used by Guru Har Kishan to serve the diseased people. It is written that the Guru himself had stayed at the palace of Jai Singh for some time.

Other Gurdwaras that have implemented the ban on single-use plastic items are Rakabganj Sahib, Sis Ganj Sahib, Moti Bagh Sahib, etc. The decision to put the ban was to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.