How You Should Opt for An Eco-Friendly Diwali
Deepavali falls on November 14 this year. Although this year, celebrations and gatherings are expected to be muted thanks to the coronavirus crisis. Moreover, many states and cities have fully or partially banned the bursting of polluting firecrackers.
The Need for an Eco-Friendly Diwali
This is no excuse of preaching but the need of the hour and the urgency of the day and age.
The Diwali fireworks can be harmful to your brain, liver, heart, kidney, skin and pretty much every organ of your body!
The noise of the crackers causes immense suffering to birds and animals. Diwali is the festival of lights and not burning off the limitless crackers which take the form of air and noise pollution. We should minimize the use of firecrackers during Diwali celebrations and other celebrations. We must also make each other aware of the harms of the pollution caused by the firecrackers that lead directly or indirectly to global warming. The harmful particulate matter in the air rises up to alarming numbers. The warning signs show that we should learn to value- people, animals, and the environment.
Here are 6 creative ways that will help you celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly manner without downing your festive spirits.
- Use Oil Diyas And LED Lights
Diyas can be used multiple times to our taste and requirements and are made from the earth-friendly material. Try avoiding the painted ones as they have chemical colours smeared over them. Candles, on the other hand, are for one-time use, require energy in their creation, are petroleum-based, and release toxins during burning to affect the air quality.
Some of the toxins are benzene, formaldehyde, and lead which are harmful to human and environmental health. If you must use electric illumination, opt for LED lamps or Diwali lights. They use at least 80 per cent lesser energy than the regular ones and come in various hues too.
- Make Natural Rangoli
In earlier days, Rangoli or Kolams was a way of sharing our food and life with insects and birds. Even today, in villages down south, the Kolam is made with either rice paste or dry rice flour and becomes a gala feast for ants and small birds. To include colours in your rangoli use natural colours instead of chemically synthesized ones.
Try using turmeric, coffee powder, and kumkum for yellow, brown, and red. You can also use flowers such as chrysanthemum, roses, lotus, and some leaves to brighten it further. Not only is this eco-friendly, but you can also clear it the next day and put it into your compost bin directly as compared to a chemical-coloured rangoli.
Use organic colours that are safe for your skin as well as non-toxic for the environment.
- Decorate Your Home in An Environment Friendly Way
Resort to eco-friendly paint, to paint your houses rather than the normal paint as they don’t contain the harmful VOCs. Besides, you can use these ideas to embellish your homes without having to paint it at all. Twist colourful sarees and dupattas to create streamers. Or paint old newspapers and hang them up as wall decorations. Brocade saris or gold embroidered dupattas could be used as drapes and curtains instead of splurging on a shopping spree.
Use your child's leftover craft materials like tissues, sandwich or rice paper to make paper lanterns. You could use matchsticks to form the spokes. Save on electricity and stop using the doorbell for a few days. Instead, hang a bell at the door entrance and let all visitors ring that instead. It will add to the Diwali feels.
Bandhanwars or traditional door hangings are the first things that welcome every guest. Make these with leftover papers or bright coloured cloth and then add glitter or paper flowers to them. Don't throw away any fused incandescent bulbs. Instead, turn them into small flower vases by placing an orchid in the centre as a decorative accessory. You can also paint them different colours and hang them from the ceiling.
Use organic incense sticks and fresh flowers to create that heady fragrance that one associate with a puja. Do away with the synthetic room fresheners. Bring home the Calming Backflow Incense Burner to spread the good vibes this Diwali.
- Say No to Crackers
Although there are several environment-friendly crackers that have begun to flood the market and are definitely less polluting than others, this Diwali, give the fireworks a complete miss. Instead, get all the children of the community to go for nature walks in the evening and celebrate this festival of lights by lighting sky lanterns instead on the terrace or in an open space.
Fill up balloons with glitter or small pieces of coloured paper and spend the evening bursting them, giving it a unique touch.
5. Go Organic
On Diwali, we express our happiness by exchanging gifts and sweets. Go organic this Diwali by gifting organic gifts to your friends and relative. There are several options available in the market; you can gift organic soaps and creams, organic teas, spices, gourmet ice creams or coffee.
If you want to gift something different you can gift plants. You have a variety of ornamental plants at your disposal. Opt for eco-friendly gifts like eco-friendly Diwali hampers and go soft on nature.
- Upgrade the Crockery Set
This Diwali, make a change in buying expensive crockery for all the festivities and instead serve dinner on banana leaves. Not only will your guests appreciate this gesture but also benefit from the multiple perks that the banana leaves have to offer on the nourishment front.
It is high time that we acknowledge to create a healthy and environmentally balanced world. The theme of “green world” is spreading all over the world and it’s our responsibility as well to maintain and uphold a better and safe society for ourselves and our forthcoming generations.
Celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali this year and do your bit in restoring equilibrium to the environment.
