When I was a kid, I remember the Diwali of that time. The evenings were filled with the sound of children laughing together, firecrackers lighting up the sky, and the taste of sweets melting in our mouths, with the cold winter breeze. Diwali used to feel like warmth even in the chills of winter. And when I look back into the days, all I see is a difference. There is a significant difference between Diwali of then and Diwali of now. The Diwali I miss carried the simplicity and the joy of celebrating with sustainability. As I grow with time, I see the modernization in the festivals, which makes the festivals feel more alive. But with new innovations comes new problems.
While we celebrate Diwali with joy, we often forget that festivals are meant to make us feel more human. And being a human, it’s our responsibility to save Mother Nature, to not cause any harm with our innovations, and to remember that we coexist with other species and the earth needs to be adored, not spoiled.
How Can We Choose Sustainability?
Celebrating a sustainable Diwali starts with making small changes in the way we celebrate. We can enjoy our traditions and at the same time take care of the environment. Even small things that we do in our daily lives can make a difference.
We can start with the way we decorate our homes. Instead of buying plastic decorations, we can use earthen diyas. We can replace fancy decor with fresh flowers or handmade torans. And even rangolis can be made from natural colors and flowers instead of synthetic rangoli colors. Similarly, we can also save electricity by using LED lights and switching off decorative lights when they are not needed. While buying gifts for our loved ones, we can choose more sustainable options. Indoor plants, homemade sweets, edible goodies, or gifts with simple packaging can be good choices. We can also look for things that are biodegradable. Choosing eco-friendly gifts is another simple way to move towards a sustainable Diwali because we are reducing waste production as well.
We must recognize that our celebrations share this planet with other living beings. Loud firecrackers can scare or harm animals. They can also disturb the people around us. Instead, we can enjoy Diwali with our families through quieter celebrations without causing trouble to others.
Sustainability starts with every small step we choose to take. And perhaps, this Diwali, we can ask ourselves a simple question: Can our happiness exist without hurting others or putting Mother Earth at risk?
Rethinking the way we celebrate
Rethinking the way we celebrate also means rethinking the way we shop. During festive season, we often find ourselves visiting big malls and stores to buy gifts and other festive items. But we can also look around our local markets and small shops. There are so many local vendors and artisans, or women, who make beautiful handmade earthen pots and decorative items. Instead of always choosing big brands and sellers, we can choose to buy from them. This way, we are not just buying something for our celebrations but also helping someone make their Diwali a little more special.
Along with this, we can also be more thoughtful about the products we choose. While buying decorations and other festive items, we can choose things that we can be reused or recycled. We can also go for products made of clay or paper instead of plastic, as these are biodegradable. Even these small changes can help us create less waste during festivals.
Bringing Back the True Spirit of Diwali
Maybe the Diwali of our childhood will never return in exactly the same way, and perhaps our celebrations will continue to change with time. But we are the same people; we can still carry forward the simplicity and warmth within us to make Diwali special. Celebrating with more kindness will remind us that our happiness should not come at the cost of other living beings. When we support local artisans and reduce waste, we are not only making our festivals more meaningful but also helping create a better environment for everyone.
This Diwali, let us bring back the warmth we often talk about in our childhood memories. Let us make our celebrations kinder to animals and gentler towards nature.
As we return to our homes to celebrate Diwali, let us also remember the home we all share, our Earth. Let us take care of it together through sustainable choices. After all, our Earth deserves the same love and warmth that we bring to our homes.
