As Diwali festivities began to tone down, more ritual debris were found strewn or drifting along the Laucala Bay coastal area in Suva on Tuesday.

Every year, people visit the site to make their offering by submerging flowers and other ritual ornaments in the ocean.

When Fiji Sun visited the area, ceramic idols, necklaces and other debris in plastic bags were found washed onto the shoreline.

Community members have witnessed these rituals for the past years and said it has become an eye sore since worship materials were dumped on the seashore.

They said it was a reoccurring matter around this time of the year.

Idols were seen to be washed ashore in Laucala Bay, Suva on November 14, 2023. Inset: Tonia Serevatu, 16 with the idols he found. Photo: Ronald Kumar

Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha president, Dhirendra Nand had released a stern advisory to followers prior to the main prayer day, advising them to be careful.

“We had already released an advisory before the celebration to all our followers to be mindful of this bit because we are environmentally friendly,” he said.

Pictures were sent to Mr Nand as evidence.

Attempts to get comments from the Environment Permanent Secretary were unsuccessful when this edition went to press.

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