7 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Diwali
Diwali or Deepavali, meaning a ‘series of lights’, is known to mark the triumph of right over wrong and of good over evil. It is that time of the year when we think beyond ourselves celebrating happiness and joy, sharing it with our friends and families as we light up our homes to welcome Goddess Lakshmi and commemorate the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya.
However, in recent years, this auspicious day has become closely associated with an increase in plastic and food waste strewn on the streets, air quality levels are dwindling to dangerous levels, and there are signs of distress on the things that we value ~ people, animals and the environment.
With Diwali right around the corner, let us stop and think of the far-reaching consequences our actions will bear on our environment. Perhaps there is still a chance that we may be able to create some positive changes that will lead to a brighter festival.
Here are my 7 tips for an eco-friendly Diwali this year.
1. Start with Charity
Is there any better way to celebrate the festival of lights than by brightening up the lives of others? Since you may be revving up for the annual clean-up of your home, remember not to throw away the things that you deem unwanted. There is a chance that another family may find use for the same things. So, make two bags, one for things that can be recycled and another that will be disposed of. All your used clothes, shoes, toys, linen can go in the recycling bag. Donate this bag to an NGO. For the underprivileged, the clothes you donate will become their new clothes for Diwali.
For your bag with disposable items, ensure you dispose them responsibly to create the least impact on the environment. For instance, dismantle electronic items, remove the silicon batteries, and then use e-waste bins.
2. Use Flowers, Natural Colours, or Rice Flour to Create Rangoli
The festival of Diwali is also associated with the welcoming of Goddess Lakshmi into our homes. We clean our homes and decorate them with rangoli so that she can shower her blessings on our home. While rangoli is a great idea and makes our home look really beautiful, the only drawback is that the use of synthetic colours has made it harmful to the environment.
This year, use flower petals, natural colours, or rice flour to create a lovely rangoli instead; your simple solution to safeguard our environment. Flowers augment the beauty of a rangoli and give it a refreshing look. The dried flower petals can easily turn into food for your garden soil once Diwali celebrations are over.
3. Use Earthen Lamps
As legend has it, the people of Ayodhya lit earthen lamps with ghee to light up the way for Lord Rama, his wife Sita, and his brother Lakshmana when they returned home after 14 years of exile. Let us celebrate Diwali this year, the same way Ayodhya had centuries ago ~ by decorating our homes with beautiful hand-made earthen lamps that have no negative impact on the environment. In fact, the shimmering of diyas in the light breeze of the night is one of the most beautiful things to behold. {Try to avoid the painted ones that have chemical colours smeared over them}.
4. Why Buy Sweets When You Can Make Them Yourself?
A lot of sweets sold in the market use synthetic ingredients which could harm our health. This Diwali, instead of buying sweets, prepare them at home. And when you do make them yourself, you know that your family will be savouring sweets that have been prepared from safe ingredients, while the joy of making sweets at your home will certainly add to the festivities.
5. Let the Ring of Laughter Replace Loud Crackers
Encourage community celebration instead of individual celebration. Celebrate Diwali by getting together with family and friends in your locality and hosting a cultural program and games for the children, and of course, exchanging gifts. Celebrating together with others in your community brings a sense of togetherness and joy which is otherwise lost in the ear-deafening fireworks that seem to compete against each other! This year ditch those loud crackers for the sound of joy and merriment. But if your children clamour for fireworks, choose ones that will not add to noise pollution, e.g. hand-held sparklers that are less harmful to the environment.
6. Exchange Hand-made Gifts
This Diwali exchange hand-made gifts. Let creative juices flow as you and your family create beautiful Diwali gifts/cards for the festival. Hand-crafted gifts and personalized cards are beautiful and they show that you took the time out to personally create something special for your friends and family. Not only will it mean a lot more to them, but it will also help you preserve the environment.
During the festive season, several environment-friendly stores and NGOs also promote hand-crafted articles which could include paper lamps, decorative earthen lamps, jute bags, cloth purses, handmade paintings, and so on, which are perfect for Diwali gifting, while also helping a cause.
7. Wrap Gifts with Newspaper
If you prefer a rustic look {while also saving all those trees that are cut down for wrapping paper that will only be torn away and thrown out into the trash can the next day}, try using newspaper to wrap your gifts. If you are not too keen on black and white newspaper covering your cheerful Diwali gifts, then paint the newspaper to give it a pop of festive colour. After all, what really matters is the gift and the thought behind it, not what covers it.
To conclude: There is no better time to start making a difference than now; recognize the predicament and prepare a roadway by which we can create a healthy and environmentally balanced world. Use these 7 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Diwali and pledge to have an environmentally safe and pollution-free Diwali this year.
Wishing You and Your Family a Happy, Eco-Friendly, and Safe Diwali 2020!
The post is simply amazing! If we stop to think about the far-reaching consequences our actions bring on Diwali, we may be able to create some positive changes that will benefit every being and lead to a brighter festival. 🙂
Thank you for resonating with this and your sweet appreciation, Snehal.
The styling and the thought behind this post – just gorgeous! Thank you for helping us celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly manner without downing our festive spirits, Tanya! xx
Always a delight to have your appreciation, Bini.
You’re always impressing me with your thought-provoking posts, and that’s such a great reason to keep coming back! xx
Thank you, Sonya. It’s so satisfying to see you enjoying my work!
Always enjoy reading your posts, Tanya! As Diwali celebrations spring into full glory, let us do our bit in restoring equilibrium to the environment.
Thank you for sparing your time to read this, Sahar.
Another well written post 🙂 that I can totally relate to. It’s so true that any festival should simply imply having fun without harming the ecosystem.
So glad to hear this, Priti! Thank you very much for sharing my views.
Yes!! Diwali is all about driving the evil forces out of our house. And this ecosystem is no less than an abode to us.
Thank you for reading through and appreciating, Ashmi.
It’s so important to think about out mute companions of the streets, and those who suffer from respiratory issues… Firecrackers are nothing but a commotion caused by too much light and sound!
Well said, Darshan.
This Diwali, Spread Smiles Not Smoke… Wishing you a happy and prosperous festival of lights, Tanya!
Happy Diwali, Punita!
The best way to spend my Diwali holiday ~ register with an NGO in my area and volunteer for a day to brighten the festival for those who cannot afford anything! Thank you for your beautiful post, Tanya!
That’s a beautiful thought, Seema. 🙂
How about this Diwali, we make an effort to separate bio-degradable and non-bio degradable waste? And take the effort to clean up our society/locality after the celebrations are over?
Absolutely.
This is so beautifully stated! ✨
Wishing you lots of smiles,
A season of delight,
Memories warm and bright…
Enjoy the timeless pleasure of Diwali,
The warmth of home and the company of dear ones.
Happy Diwali! #Diwali2020
Oh, thank you so much!
While we’re all aware of the numerous ways in which we can celebrate Diwali, many of us still choose to make it polluting and hazardous for our surroundings – people and animals included. Thank you for sharing a few ways by which we may avoid contributing to environmental pollution. 🙂
Thank you very much, Sonali. Your words encourage me a lot!
If you haven’t done your Diwali shopping yet, think before you buy. How can you do eco-conscious Diwali shopping? How about choosing not to buy new this year and exploring other options for your clothes and even for gifting, home decor, and other Diwali shopping? Or simply pledge to go zero waste this Diwali. #sustainblepractices
Thank you for that reflection, Aindrila.
I couldn’t agree more! By lighting earthen oil lamps made by local potters, you will take care of yourself, fellow sentient beings and the planet. ✨✨✨
Here are two more ways to make Deepawali a Zero Waste Festival of Lights:
Small steps towards celebrating a Conscious Deepawali will go a long way in ensuring your well-being.
You’re an incredibly thoughtful person! Have a beautiful day, Srimanti.
So excited that your blog’s viewers/readers keeps on growing! 🙂 (Literally!)
Thank you for sensitising us about pollution and environmental harm caused by our way of celebrating Diwali… Spread the love, shop local and support the incredible indigenous handicraft community India has!
Thank you for your affectionate thoughts, Hitesh.
Loving these eco friendly ways to make it a Green & Clean Diwali! ❤️ This #festiveseason, I intend to go Eco, be Eco and encourage #ECO! This festive season I will also support #smallbusiness!
Thank you for your sensitivity in seeing it, Bananii.
Your blogs are always loaded with learning… This Diwali series in particular sensitises us with regards to climate change and how we can celebrate the festival of light in an eco friendly way including decoration, gifting, packing etc. Many heartfelt thanks!
I’m so glad you like my posts! Thank you truly for always being my cheerleader, Poulami.
Every Diwali I bring out traditional family recipes and share them with my children. They learn so much from stories about my own childhood! ❤️ I intend to let them decorate the house this year… let them choose the diyas and lights like responsible citizens of Mother Earth!
That makes me happy to hear, Debarati!
According to popular Hindu belief, Goddess Laxmi resides in cleanliness. So, cleaning our homes brings positive energy and prosperity. ❤️ On a side note, I am glad to see that the govt of Karnataka has given permission to use only ‘Green crackers’ this Diwali.
Thank you for adding to my post, Sreyashi. Nice of you.
This Diwali, I’m celebrating with mindfulness. Ditching the plastic and toxins, and using these creative tips for a sustainable #DiwaliAtHome. ✨✨✨
Thank you, Sejal. Love your affectionate thoughts!
Love! I shall get creative with my family & celebrate a Sustainable and Green Diwali with these wonderful ideas! After all, the choice to make the shift is ours. We need to make sustainable changes at all levels – Individual, Community, State and Country!
You are just the best, Shambhavi! Thank you for sharing.
You spread learning and kindness like confetti! And that’s your super power! Loads of love ❤️.
By the way, sometimes it’s the aura that sublimes over and attracts people, and hence the belief that we meet people for a reason. 🙂 Lovely post and you…
Deeply value your warm and heartfelt appreciation, Akanksha.
You’re beautiful on the inside and outside! ❤️ I have taken my Diwali cleaning forward this year – from cleaning the house to cleaning the environment. Segregating the waste at home, and now, the wet waste is going to my composter, with the dry waste being collected by #greenovation, and the reject waste going to the incinerator. Aiming that nothing goes to landfill…
You’re the best ~ always such a compliment from you!
Wonderful effort, Madhu!
You do such amazing work! ❤️ May Diwali be many moments of celebration in a cosy niche with your favourite people!
To do my bit, I have purchased ecological collapsible bamboo lanterns that are easy to assemble, quick to disassemble and hardly consume any space in our home! With a combination of bamboo and palm leaves, I am glad to be a part of the biodiversity conservation drive that you have started…
It’s comments like yours that put a hop in my step and keep me going, Agnisha!