Simple Tips for You to Make Your Festivals Eco-friendly: Must Read!

As people around the world gear up for another year of festive celebrations, discussions on sustainability and eco-friendliness are becoming more relevant than ever. Whether it’s during hot summers or chilly winters, adopting eco-aware practices isn’t just about making small changes like saving water or planting trees; it’s about integrating sustainability into every facet of our lives, including how we celebrate our festivals. This guide explores ways to enjoy global festivals sustainably, from India’s colorful Independence Day to Spain’s vibrant La Tomatina, ensuring our festivities are as environmentally friendly as they are fun.

Eco-Friendly Practices Across Festivals

To truly honor our environment during celebrations, we can adopt the 5 ‘R’ principle: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. These guidelines help us enhance the environmental friendliness of our celebrations, ensuring they are both meaningful and mindful.

• Composting Temple Offerings: Transform flowers and food waste into nutrient-rich compost.

• Planting Seeds and Saplings: Utilize seeds from consumed fruits to grow new life or create nourishing seed balls.

• Collecting Plastic Waste: A straightforward yet impactful way to reduce pollution.

• Opting for Eco-Friendly Disposables: Choose biodegradable tableware over single-use plastics for hosting events.

• Using Energy-Efficient Lighting: Replace traditional bulbs with LED or other low-energy alternatives.

• Creating Sustainable Decor: Favor handmade or natural materials for festive decorations.

• Foregoing Fireworks: Minimize air and noise pollution by avoiding firecrackers.

• Purchasing Sustainable Gifts: Choose gifts that support environmental sustainability.

Embracing Green Practices in Indian Festive Traditions

1. Independence Day: This national holiday is observed with flag-hoisting ceremonies and cultural performances. To celebrate responsibly, use flags made from khadi—a traditional hand-spun cloth—instead of plastic or paper. Implement flag collection drives for proper disposal and promote awareness of flag etiquette through educational programs.
2. Rakshabandhan: This festival celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. Sisters tie a ‘Rakhi’—a sacred thread—on their brothers’ wrists as a symbol of protection. Opt for eco-friendly “Rakhi” made from bamboo, seeds, or crochet. These sustainable choices can be repurposed as keychains or decorations, reducing waste and enhancing the festival’s environmental friendliness.
3. Ganesh Chaturthi, Mahalaxmi Pooja, Navratri, Holi, Dussehra, and Diwali: These are vibrant Indian festivals that celebrate themes of good over evil, wisdom, prosperity, and spiritual renewal. Each festival, through its unique rituals and stories, promotes the triumph of light over darkness. We can celebrate these festivals with idols made of natural materials like wood or clay instead of plaster of Paris, which is harmful to the environment. Switch to LED lights, eco-friendly decorations, and firecrackers, and use natural materials for traditional floor artworks called “rangoli”. Celebrate them with natural, organic colors made from spices, flowers, and herbs. Avoid synthetic colors, which are harmful to both the environment and health. Choose dry colors over wet to conserve water.

Global Festivals and Sustainable Practices

• Christmas: Celebrate with sustainable practices no matter where you are in the world. Use a live potted tree or transform an existing houseplant into a Christmas tree. Select handmade gifts and decorations, minimizing the use of plastic and non-recyclable materials.

• Songkran Festival (Thailand): Known as the Water Festival, this event marks the Thai New Year. Celebrate by using water sparingly, promoting the use of small water bowls over hoses and buckets to conserve water while still partaking in the festive splashing.

• Cherry Blossom Festival (Japan): Enjoy the transient beauty of cherry blossoms with minimal environmental impact. Use biodegradable tableware for picnics and participate in nature walks, promoting a deeper connection with the environment.

• Chinese New Year: The festivities include decorating homes, burning incense, and setting off fireworks. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products and decorations, and make sure to recycle or donate decluttered items responsibly.

• La Tomatina (Spain): Celebrated with a massive tomato fight, this festival can be surprisingly sustainable. Implement systems to collect and compost the tomatoes used, and educate participants about food waste and security through engaging activities.

I have considered a few Indian and international festivals, but I hope that these tips can be applied to other festivals as well. These festival-specific tips not only reduce the environmental impact of our celebrations but also help create a culture of sustainability that can extend into everyday life. This guide serves as a reminder that every festival, no matter where it’s celebrated, provides an opportunity to respect tradition while protecting our planet. Many of us buy new clothes for every festival and other celebrations. Please understand and be aware of how the textile industry—and we as consumers—are responsible for a significant amount of carbon emissions. Let us be eco-aware and protect nature for our future generations.

–Dr. Aabha Pimprikar is a Life Skills Trainer and President of DAGMHI 3030 (Mental Health Initiative to Promote Mental Health Awareness)