The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): Amidst the ongoing battle against water scarcity in Bengaluru, the city’s hotels, resorts, and event organizers are gearing up for the Holi festival, scheduled for March 25. These celebrations are set to feature a variety of activities, including pool parties, rain dances, and extensive use of colored powders. Currently, booking platforms list approximately 70 to 80 such events, predominantly in the eastern and southeastern regions of the city.
The persistence of water shortage issues has led to public outcry over the organization of these large-scale celebrations, particularly those spanning multiple days or entire weekends. These events are anticipated to consume significant quantities of water, raising concerns among local citizens about the prudence of hosting such festivities during a water crisis.
Nitin Seshadri, a community activist from Koramangala, emphasized the inappropriateness of squandering water on these events given the current circumstances. He acknowledged the importance of festival celebration but argued for moderation, especially in residential settings, and called for government intervention to limit the scale of public festivities.
The public’s apprehension has also found expression on social media platforms, where users have implored both the government and fellow citizens to reconsider the organization of large-scale Holi events to mitigate water wastage.
In response to the growing criticism, some event organizers have declared plans for alternative celebrations that do not rely on synthetic colors or water, including dry Holi and flower-based events, as well as celebrations that are friendly to pets. The hotel and resort industry, on the other hand, defends its plans by pointing to the use of recycled water for the festivities. P.C. Rao, president of the Bruhat Bengaluru Hoteliers Association, highlighted the industry’s commitment to sustainability by utilizing treated water from reverse osmosis filters and other sources for pool parties and rain dances. Rao assured that the majority of the water used in these events would be recycled, projecting minimal waste.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has yet to issue specific guidelines for commercial Holi events. BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar indicated that while domestic celebrations face no restrictions, the board encourages judicious water use and is deliberating on policies for commercial festivities.