Green Diwali: 6 ways to celebrate Eco-friendly Diwali
The cherished festival of lights, crackers and sweets, is just around the corner; Yes, it’s Diwali. It’s time to decorate your home, laugh with your loved ones and have your favorite sweets.
While Diwali is everyone's favorite festival, the joy of this celebration is overshadowed by a growing concern: our environment. This has been going on for quite some time, people have been celebrating it in a careless manner, merely for a few fleeting moments of fun, resulting in increased pollution and harm to our environment.
This year let’s pledge to celebrate our favorite festival in an environmentally friendly way. By making a few simple changes and taking proactive steps, we can transform our Diwali into a greener and more sustainable celebration. Together, let's create a Diwali that illuminates our homes and leaves a positive impact on our Earth, making our Mother Earth smile this Diwali!
Green Diwali
Before diving into the festivities, it's essential to grasp the concept of a Green Diwali. Green Diwali involves celebrating the festival of lights while minimizing harmful effects on the environment. Here's a checklist to help you celebrate your favorite festival in a sustainable manner and stand out from the crowd:
1. Ditch Burning Crackers:
The sound and the dazzling display of fireworks at night can be mesmerizing, but have you ever considered the detrimental effects caused by burning these crackers? The harmful gases released due to these fireworks contribute to air pollution, and the noise they produce raises the overall noise level by 25.5% compared to a typical day.
The sparkling red and vibrant light of crackers illuminates your Diwali night, but for others, it casts a dark and terrifying shadow: child labor. According to several articles, in several firecracker factories in Tamil Nadu alone, out of 100,000 workers, 45,000 are children below the age of 14.
But wait! We are not suggesting that you shouldn't enjoy your festival. Every problem has its solution, and here, your solution is Green Crackers. Green crackers are not as harmful as regular ones because they don’t contain substances like Barium Nitrate. They absorb dust and produce less than 30% of the pollution regular crackers do.
2. Go for Organic Colors to Make Your Rangoli
Rangoli designs hold immense significance during this festival, but the colors available in the market pose a concern as they contain harmful chemicals, mica, acids, and more. These colors are non-biodegradable and can have adverse effects on health when inhaled. In addition to impacting our health, these colors have adverse effects on our environment. A significant amount of water is used in the production process, contributing to water scarcity issues. Furthermore, the harmful waste generated during these colors is often dumped into rivers, polluting our water sources and harming aquatic life.
Opt for natural and organic colors made from flowers, kumkum, rice flour, and other natural sources. Not only are they biodegradable, but they are also non-toxic, ensuring a safer and eco-friendly way to create beautiful Rangoli designs.
3. Use Earthen Lamps and Candles
This year, opt for earthen lamps and wax candles instead of fancy plastic ones to adorn your home. Not only do these earthen lamps aid in pollution control, but they also contribute to supporting local potters whose livelihoods depend on selling these diyas. Making this choice not only enhances the ambiance of your home but also makes a positive impact on the environment and the local community.
Your small step can bring smiles and happiness to numerous local vendors whose livelihoods depend on making diyas.
4. Use Compostable Tableware:
Gathering with relatives and savoring dinner, beverages, sweets, and more, together forms one of the most cherished aspects of this festival. However, nobody enjoys doing dishes after a fabulous Diwali Party, right? But fear not, we're not suggesting you resort to plastic disposable plates, adding to the harmful effects on our environment. According to a survey, every year, more than 800 tons of plastic waste are collected the day after Diwali.
Instead, consider using compostable and plant-based tableware to elevate your dining experience. Not only does this choice make clean-up hassle-free, but it also promotes an eco-friendly approach, allowing you to enjoy your festivities guilt-free.
5. No more Plastic Gift Wrap- Go Green!
Who doesn’t love receiving gifts during Diwali? While wrapping gifts in fancy plastic wraps might look appealing, it’s undoubtedly harmful to the environment. However, considering the alarming 800 tons of plastic waste mentioned in the above paragraph, it's crucial to rethink our gifting habits.
So, what’s the eco-friendly alternative that's both beautiful and sustainable? Opt for paper gift wraps, old sarees, or fancy cloth materials to wrap your gifts. Unlike plastic wraps, these alternatives are biodegradable and help reduce pollution, making your gifts not only thoughtful but also environmentally responsible.
6. Save Electricity!
Diwali, the festival of lights, often sees homes adorned with plastic lights, contributing to plastic waste and heightened electricity usage.
However, there are eco-friendly alternatives to consider. Enhance your home decor with the natural beauty of real flowers and candles. Additionally, opt for solar lights and LED bulbs, not only minimizing electricity consumption but also adding a touch of sustainability to your celebrations.
Let’s Wrap
By incorporating these simple steps, you can transform your Diwali into a greener and more sustainable celebration. Let's come together and, for the sake of a few hours of enjoyment, refrain from causing a detrimental impact on our home, Earth.
In conclusion, making conscious choices during festivals like Diwali can go a long way in preserving our environment. Let’s embrace eco-friendly practices, not just for our enjoyment today but for a healthier planet tomorrow. Together, we can illuminate our lives while also respecting the Earth that sustains us. Happy, green Diwali!