We Indians
boast of an unparalleled rich and diverse culture with great pride. The
infinite festivals celebrated across the length and breadth of the country all
through the year are vibrant manifestations of this cultural richness and diversity.
Festivals break the monotony of the mundane chores we get engaged with in daily
life. So aptly they are a treat to the senses- the bright colours, lights and
shimmer, the sounds, smells and tastes.
However they
have an ugly side too, that stealthily but definitely threatens our environment
and fellow beings on this planet. The copious amount of waste generated, noise,
smoke generated during such celebrations poison our environment often
culminating in irreparable damage. Taking a closer look at our activities during
such occasions will help us identify potential
threats and adopt an alternative strategy that is eco-friendly and at the same
time maintains the festive spirit.
·
Bursting of crackers
In India,
most festivals are celebrated by bursting crackers, lighting sparklers, flower
pots etc. Though they look magnificent against the night sky, they pollute the
air with smoke and soot. Many metal salts are added during their making to give
various colours. The noise produced disturbs children, the elderly and animals.
It disturbs sleep and even causes hypertension and respiratory disorders. After
the festival, streets are strewn with the harmful trash generated by crackers. Apart
from the pollution they cause, many firework factories employ children who face
many occupational hazards.
Alternative: Families can resolve to stop the use
of crackers and fireworks. Children will surely understand, most often it is
adults who need convincing. Instead, families and neighbourhoods can get
together and enjoy a night of singing and dancing. Older people too can be
involved in sharing stories and traditions with the young.
·
Use of artificial colours and dyes
Who can
enjoy Holi without colours? Diwali too is incomplete without colourful
rangolis. But what if those colours were deceptive masks worn by deadly
chemicals hazardous to humans, capable of triggering a host of health issues? At
the end of a Holi celebration we get bathed in harmful dyes that can even cause
cancer. A huge quantity of water gets wasted and the water balloons amount to
non-biodegradable waste that pollutes the soil.
Alternative: Use natural and organic colours like haldi, henna etc. Tone
down the excitement to use buckets of water to mix colours. Be creative and dye
your clothes with plant extracts for a change.
·
Immersion of idols in water bodies
During
festivals like Durga Puja and Ganesh Chaturthi thousands of painted idols of deities are immersed in
ponds, lakes and rivers along with flowers, plastic garlands, glittering
decorations and even food items. Idols made of plaster of Paris pollute the
water and alter its chemical properties. The colours from these idols leach out
harmful chemicals, dyes and even heavy metal salts. Plastic waste is
non-biodegradable and chokes aquatic life. The flowers, leaves and other puja
items rot in the water and serve as ideal breeding grounds for microbes that
either spread diseases or reduce the oxygen content of the water body. Needless
to say the lake/pond or river chokes to death.
Alternative: Encourage children and others in the
family to make unbaked clay idols (as DIY craft projects) that can be immersed
in a pail of water or nearby water body without causing pollution. Idols can
even be reused every year. It also teaches children to be environment conscious
individuals.
·
Wastage of electricity
Festivals
and fairs witness indiscriminate use of electricity to light up homes, streets,
halls etc. Loud music throughout the day has become the norm. To compensate for
the overuse, power cuts become frequent after a festival.
Alternative: Use a small number of oil lamps,
candles or energy saving LEDs for lighting. Use lighting only when necessary.
Generation of
trash
The clean up
after a festival, be it in a home, street or locality yields piles of mixed
wastes that cannot be recycled or reused. The waste piles contain leftover
food, flowers and leaves from pujas, paper and plastic cups, plates and spoons,
decoration, cardboard boxes of sweets, clothes and gifts, gift wraps etc. Even
during national festivals, plastic flags and sweet wrappers litter schools and
offices.
Alternative: A little thought on what is really
needed and what can be avoided prior to the festival will reduce a lot of
waste. Reusable plates and glasses or eco-friendly plates can be used. Puja
thalis can be reused. Decorations can be made from materials available at home.
If we take that extra step to segregate the wastes, it will be easier to
recycle them. Wastage of food can be avoided by taking and serving small
helpings. Flowers, leaves and vegetable wastes can be composted. Involving
children is the best way to spread the idea of Reducing, Reusing and Recycling.
Meaningless usage
of edible items in rituals
Be it
turmeric smeared rice used as akshate ( for blessing) or ash gourds filled with
red dye that are smashed during Ayudh Puja, many rituals make use of food items
that later get wasted. At a time when the world population and declining
agriculture is driving us towards food crisis, it is certainly not acceptable
to continue following such traditions where precious food gets wasted.
Alternative: Revisit ancient customs and rituals
instead of mindlessly following them. May be they were relevant in olden days.
Find out their relevance in the present scenario.
Useless gifts
Gifting is
very common during festivals. Gifts are purchased thoughtlessly and exchanged
during Navarathri, Diwali, Christmas etc. Most of them lie unused or tucked away
in a cupboard only to be trashed later.
Alternative: Meaningful gifts that encourage
environment friendly thought and behaviour can be given like books, plants or
saplings. These need not be wrapped in plastic or paper, reducing the burden on
or planet. Donate old clothes to the needy. Refrain from buying new clothes
unless absolutely necessary.
Unhealthy eating
Festivals
are inevitably linked to feasting. A great number of delicacies are cooked at
home or bought from outside. Sweets with artificial colours, deep fried snacks
and dishes bathed in oil and ghee look very tempting and inviting. In a country
that is on its way to being the capital of all lifestyle disorders, this is an
unhealthy trend.
Alternative: Healthy and tasty meals can be
prepared at home. People should eat keeping in mind their lifestyle and health.
Instead of sharing sweets, healthy recipes can be tried out and shared.
Unnecessary
splurging
During
festivals, people compete with others in the apartment/locality for putting up
the best display/decoration/ meal. In the process a lot of money and material
gets wasted. A lot of money gets wasted in buying new clothes, home decor and a
list of not so necessary items. People often indulge in impulsive buying due to
discount sales and offers during festival time.
Alternative: Get together as a group to celebrate
festivals. Families can together make a single display (be it a christmas tree,
golu, pookalam or rangoli) that will save time, money and materials. It will
also foster friendships and spread the message of sharing. Plan a visit with
loved ones to a nearby shelter or orphanage. Spread the spirit of the festival
by sharing your time and gifts with them. Such humanitarian acts are the best
ways to inculcate in children and youngsters important values which adults
often complain are lacking.
So this
festive season, let your creative juices flow. Reduce, reuse recycle, compost, donate,
share and do just about everything you can to have a safe, eco-friendly and
above all, a more meaningful celebration.
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