Eco-friendly Festive DIY 101
We all love the burst of colours that festivals bring! But who says beautiful decorations need to be made of plastic? Here are some simple and stunning ideas to make your festive décor eco-friendly. No plastic, no thermocol, and definitely no artificial flowers!
Here are some eco friendly ideas to make your festival celebration both beautiful and sustainable:
1. Go Natural with Your Diyas and Lamps
Skip plastic LED lamps and go traditional with clay diyas, brass lamps, or coconut shell candles. Not only are they reusable, but they also add a warm, earthy glow. You can even make it more festive by painting diyas using natural colours or leftover rangoli powders.
2. Fresh Flowers & Leaves Over Artificial Ones
Marigolds, mango leaves, and banana stems have adorned Indian homes for centuries. These natural elements biodegrade easily and smell divine. Create torans or garlands using locally available flowers and compost them afterwards.
3. Reuse, Repurpose, Repeat
Before buying new décor, check what you already have. Old sarees, dupattas, or even jute bags can become colourful backdrops, table covers, or wall hangings. You can repurpose old glass jars into lanterns, or terrariums.
Fun DIY: Wrap fairy lights around a reused bottle, and voilà , instant festive charm!
4. Eco-Friendly Rangoli
Traditional rangolis made with rice flour or flower petals are both biodegradable and bird-friendly. Avoid synthetic colours that contain microplastics. You can experiment with turmeric to make your own natural pigments. Try a minimalist rangoli made with pulses or seeds, they can later be fed to birds or ants!
5. Handcrafted Touches
Support local artisans and small businesses that make eco-conscious decorations, bamboo lanterns, terracotta idols, or paper mâché décor. This also helps to keep traditional crafts alive.
Try these ideas with your friends and families and make your festive decorations even more eco-friendly and plastic-free. Celebrate with the thought that the end result of our joy and celebrations should not be any kind of pollution.