Diwali or Deepavali, the most awaited festival, represents the victory of good over evil. In India, almost in every part of the country, Diwali is celebrated in a grandeur manner. Whether lighting up the Diyas, decorating the whole house, meeting your relatives and friends, making sweets, or the most important to burst crackers, this ‘Festival of lights’ is the celebration of the revival and awareness of the Inner Light, which will eventually transcend the darkness with its power.
But moreover, with the changing times, Diwali is all about bursting all sorts of crackers, especially for the children. Even if we all know that bursting firecrackers cause severe health hazards and increase the air pollution caused by firecrackers’ smoke. The world is struggling due to climate change, and in the present-day, pollution is the primary concern for daily livelihood. And on top of that, the outburst of COVID-19 last year has made the situation more exhausting.
The Odisha Government has already banned selling and bursting all the firecrackers and said that a fine will be charged for those who violets this year’s Diwali rule. Most people are happy with this decision, but some aren’t as their sole purpose of celebrating Diwali is to burst crackers.
The global pandemic scenario has already changed the style of festivity but still, it’s high time that we should increase self-awareness and celebrate this year Diwali in an eco-friendly way. Here are some productive ways to celebrate your Diwali in an eco-friendly manner this year-
1. Donation to Ngo
Nothing will make you happier if you share your happiness with someone indigent. Although donating your old clothes or other stuff has nothing to do with the environment but in this way, your clothes will be recycled and will be reused by someone who is in great need. Usually, people throw away their old clothes, which will eventually end up in the garbage, so why not donate to an NGO. Donating reusable items to people who will use them creates a sense of happiness as you satisfy the necessities of those underprivileged. This also saves many children working in factories from inevitable health hazards conceived in the composition of shoddy firecrackers.
Along with your old clothes and books, you can also buy some eateries for the underprivileged children, which will surely make them happy. It is not only for the children, but you can also visit some old age home and spend some time with old age people.
2. Use Earthen Lamps
Diwali is known as the festival of lights, but people also forget that it is also the festival of happiness. We all know that electricity is wasting resources, and people buy LEDs, turn on them for the whole night. Avoid plastic LEDs or lamps and instead buy earthen lamps or organic candles or aroma sticks and use oil diyas. Even try to avoid the painted ones as they also have chemical colours that will spread over them. Use organic candles, as those are one-time use and don’t are petroleum-based. Those candles also don’t clear any toxins, which will discredit the air quality.
The best are the earthen lamps as it uses oil for embellishments and result in zero pollution. Even the fire of Diya will help to kill the air insects and germs. Using earthen diyas/lamps will also help cut down the electricity and enhance the beauty of your house.
3. Use Organic Colour
Every year, people clean their houses on Diwali’s occasion and make sure that their home is well decorated. Rangolis are a significant part of Diwali decoration with delightful and eccentric designs. But most people are unaware that the synthetic colour used is harmful and unhealthy for the environment. Artificial dyes are very hazardous when gasped and lead to severe health perils. So you can use flowers or eco-friendly colours for making rangolis that will not harm the surroundings. Organic rangolis are very readily available in the market as well as in the online platform. Even you can also use ‘Kolam,’ which is the paste of rice or dry rice flour for rangoli designs. For further adding of colours, you can add Turmeric or kumkum powder, or Chandan Powder.
4. Recycle Your Home Decor
Instead of throwing your old clothes, use them for decoration purposes.
Avoid buying plastic décor items; instead, go for natural flowers, clay items; or recycle your old dupattas and sarees to create colourful awnings. Wring colourful sarees and dupattas to make pennants. Old saris or gold embroidered dupattas could be used as drapes and curtains. You could even paint old newspapers and drape them up like lanterns. Use child’s leftover craft materials, redesign them, and use them for decoration. You could use matchsticks to form the crosspieces. Buy decor items made out of cloth, paper, and other recyclable items. You can also use plants or small trees for decorating. Use organic incense sticks and fresh flowers to form that intoxicating fragrance.
5. Eco-friendly Gifts
Gifts are the most essential part of the celebration of Diwali. We exchange gifts with our relatives, friends, and family as a token of love and happiness. But instead of buying worthless stuff, you can gift some of the usable and eco-friendly gifts. Plants are the best things to give someone, especially with the current environmental situation. Gift plants like a peace lily or spider plants or china grass or snake plant, or seasonal flower plants are the best air purifiers. There are many stunning plants available both in the market and on online platforms.
You can also gift your loved ones some natural soaps or creams or tea bags or some edible stuff. And use old newspapers for wrapping the gifts instead of throwing them out. You can also use colourful old clothes or dupattas for wrapping.
Since last year many have lost their lives due to COVID-19, and many are still suffering from this global pandemic. This Diwali, make sure that you will do a bit in restoring equanimity to the environment and will celebrate eco-friendly. Avoid using crackers and make sure to help each other. Happy Diwali.
