Our Diwali should be filled with love and not plastic. So, it is important for us to take the steps to make our Diwali perfectly plastic-free. It is not that difficult, trust me. Don’t be afraid that you might be a buzzkill for everyone else! If you are reading this, you are just about to become a Plastic Reduction Hero.

1. CLEANING
As a child, I remember how I would dread the week before Diwali. Ma wouldn’t leave us alone during her house cleaning spree. We would end up looking like dirt monsters at the end of the day with sooty hands and legs. And I also remember the way Ma selected what to throw away and what not to. This brings me to the little ways you can help in plastic waste reduction while cleaning your house : don’t throw away broken plastic buckets and use them as bins for as long as you can ; you could use old plastic boxes and bottles for storage ; don’t dump the clear glass bottles you might find, upcycle them as lamp holders or send them to an authorized recycler.

2. RANGOLI
Diwali and Rangoli are almost inseparable in most households. These days, it has become easier to make Rangolis with sticker patterns and a variety of colors packed in plastic pouches available in almost every nook and corner. Ditch the trend and go traditional! Make Rangoli with rice flour, leaves, and sun-dried flower petals. Believe me, the beauty of natural elements is unbeatable.

3. GIFTS
It’s the festive season. The exchange of gifts is mandatory. This time, ditch the old and obsolete gift ideas and combine your love for the environment with your love for your family and friends. Vasundhara, a charming lady whom I happened to meet at a Gurgaon market, told me something amazing. She bought few eco-friendly travel kits consisting of bamboo cutlery, bamboo straw, and bamboo toothbrush. She said she would gift them to her nieces and nephews, this Diwali. “It is high time children understand that festivals are also celebrations of nature,” she said.

4. SWEETS
Diwali wouldn’t be the same if sweets didn’t play “merry go round” in the neighborhood and at the relatives. Buy and send sweets to friends, neighbors, and relatives in cloth snack bags or wooden baskets covered in beeswax wraps. You could use your own steel lunch boxes for the drippy ones. Encourage those around you to do the same and avoid the wasteful plastic packets.

5. DECORATION
Go green with locally made earthen lamps or simple wax candles. You could also use small bottles by filling them with oil, making holes in the caps and inserting cotton wicks through them. The plastic lights don’t last that long, anyway. Try the collapsible bamboo lanterns instead of paper or plastic lanterns while decorating the house. These are sturdier, more beautiful and reusable.

6. CRACKERS
This is the toughest to crack, especially with children. It is not to be mentioned that crackers not only generate waste and pollute the environment but also affect the animals, especially pets. Try having conversations with the children and help them understand why they shouldn’t light crackers. Start by letting them have some and slowly, make them completely avoid this wasteful and harmful practice of playing with crackers.

Make this Diwali Happy and Plastic-free!

About the Author :

A Literature student, Shalini is an alumna of Miranda House, Delhi University. In her free time, she likes to overthink, sitting at a nice spot. It might take you a while to bring her back from the maze of thoughts. An ardent reader, she pens down meaningful sentences occasionally. Shalini always tries to do her bit in making turtles happier and the Earth greener.