A Study on Media Coverage of Religious Celebrations and Their Connection to Environmental Stewardship- Rituals, Nature, and Environmental Justice
Amrita Mukherjee
Ph.D. Research Scholar
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Berhampur University
Prof. Ganesh Sethi
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Berhampur University
Brahmapur, Korapalli, Odisha 760007
Introduction:
The mass media has played a crucial role in reforming certain religious rituals and environmental sustainability measures in India. The broadcast media, print, and also new media elevated the enormous chance of visibility for mass media, for upholding the perception, social behaviour, and policymaking regarding several cases of environmental justice. This paper attempts to study the dual aspects of mass media on the religious rituals and environmental sustainability and environmental stewardship in India, supported by recent research and case studies in India concerning both the positive and negative aspects, and to bring to light some trends, challenges, and openings. India is the land of rich culture, tradition, and unity among all religions. If we consider the data of Censusofindia.net[1], we found that India’s current estimated population is 140.98cr, indicating a 16.43% increase from the 2011 census, and ranked 1st in the world population meter, with the largest secularism. Before driving into several religious rituals and their effects on the environment we need to understand the secularized India’s religion percentage. The majority of the Indian population is Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.78%, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, and other religious persuasions occupying the remaining portions. The world is becoming more aware of the value of protecting nature nowadays. In many countries, people are committed to environmental conservation and natural preservation progressively. In India, so many festivals (religious rituals) represent the deep bond between human and environmental sustainability. In this essence, this study makes an effort to examine the different functions of several religious festivals about environmental preservation.
