For me, rakhi was always a time of joy. Growing up with a sister, it was something to look forward to, showering her with love and basking in her affection in return. But growing up can sometimes mean growing apart or just finding different things that matter. That happened to my sister and I- I saw the problems the planet is facing and began to prioritize sustainability while she found her passion in consumerism and social media.
I feared that would make festivals difficult- how do we balance these contrasting needs.
Or how would I get my younger brother a Spiderman figure, his current favourite superhero, without supporting plastic.
But my fears were for naught.
For imperfect sustainability gave us the balance we were looking for.
Sustainability wants to preserve the planet for people. And if people see it as a chore, it will become a fringe movement instead of the wide-scale effort that is needed to reverse the climate catastrophe we find ourselves facing. Which means, I cannot force my ideals on my siblings.
And I would hate to gift them something they did not like. What’s the point of such a gift? A meaningless gesture, I say.
Also, that wouldn’t be sustainable- things that are well-loved are repaired, taken care of, and thus become a good use of resources. After all, being sustainable does not mean giving up pleasure. It means moderating it where necessary and finding ways to indulge that does not harm the environment.
So, with that in mind, here is what I think those of us who celebrate rakhi need to remember.
- Travel home if you wish to- even if you have to fly
Flight and travel emissions are immense. And yes, many, including ChatGpt, would look at them and suggest having a virtual celebration if possible. And if that works for you, more power to you- but do not feel guilty for wanting to spend the time with your family in person.
You could travel by train if possible and if not, booking a flight in advance saves you money and allows you to get flights that have lower emission rates. You could also look at offsetting your flight emissions, but do remember that carbon offsetting is nuanced.
However, sustainability thrives on being a community effort and if yours includes your family, do not let a manageable issue stop you from seeing them. Which reminds me, who in your found family will you be giving a rakhi to- let me know in the comments and maybe I will tell you who I will be sending gifts to.
- Get sustainable rakhis- where possible- or make them sustainable after
Now I would strongly suggest getting bamboo rakhis or upcycled fabric rakhis. Our Better Planet, GreenFootPrint, Gift Green India, and other sustainable stores have a variety of options from ethical and eco-friendly gift hampers to sustainable rakhis.
But do not feel bad if you cannot find the design or budget you are looking for in sustainable stores and have to opt for a plastic rakhi. In my family, we have a tradition of getting handmade rakhis which supports small businesses and also reduces waste- so that is an option you can look at. There is always making your own rakhi too, which is so cute, because you are symbolizing love with something crafted from your own hands.
But what truly matters is how you dispose of the rakhi.
Seed rakhis can be planted. But whether it is a plastic rakhi or a biodegradable one, without the proper conditions, it will end up contributing to waste. While plastic has many more issues such as production, toxins, microplastics, and usage of fossil fuels, anything that is single use can be a problem. So, the best way to ensure your Raksha bandhan is sustainable is to gift rakhis that are a memento and which your siblings and niblings would like to keep with them or exchange for many many years.
And if you must dispose of the rakhi, especially if you must throw them in rivers for religious reasons despite knowing that it’ll like pollute one of the few fresh water resources we have, then it is best to choose a rakhi that will biodegrade completely. You can also remove the plastic bits and submerge the rest, if your culture allows, using the plastic as a craft project later. At the end of the day, you must make your own sustainable option.
Personally, I choose to buy sustainable and cute upcycled rakhis that can be submerged without much creating plastic pollution, and then keep anything- like a Spiderman plushie- for gifts. Sustainable but cute and zero plastic. However, if that is not an option for you, do not let that deter you from finding your balance between festivity and the planet- even if the most you can do is educate others. Sustainability should feel good and not be a chore.
- Gift sustainable gifts
Now this one is a no-brainer of course. But you don’t just want to gift something that is sustainable. As we mentioned, it has to be something that will be loved and cared for. If possible, try to get sustainable packaging and reduce the amount of plastic in your gift. Hampers, if you are allowed to choose what products go in, can add a personal tough. And of course, the best gifts are handmade ones- whether they are made by your or an artist’s hands.
I personally, love to gift art. From writing poetry to commissioning or creating pictures, or providing my skills to my family in the form of writing and website SEO, I feel I am giving them something helpful and important. Books are my other choice, especially if I can get them printed on sustainable paper. Thrifted gifts, if your recipient likes that, are a sustainable option as well. Gift cards to sustainable stores are another option, as they allow your loved one to choose something they would like, while ensuring the product is sustainable, and it introduces them to the idea of people and planet friendly living.
Just remember the goal is to get a smile on your loved one’s face while not harming the planet. And if you can make sustainable living look cool, more power to you.
- Compost. Compost. Compost. Or donate.
We make a look of food for festivals. And then we get sweets. Usually, our families will wipe their plates clean and grin. But if by any chance food is left, do not waste it. From scrappy cooking to composting to donating food to local charities or packaging it and sending it to friends and employees, there are a lot of ways to share the holiday cheer. Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to climate change so if you can avoid that, you have already done your part for the planet.
- Reuse what you can
While regifting is frowned upon in many places, if you can do it, more power to you. Or if you are just reusing the wrapping for a gift, that works too. Anything that keeps things in circulation is a step in the sustainable direction.
And if you can do like Gift Green India and reuse your rakhis as a broach, well, there you go- you have an eco-friendly rakhi delievered to you.
From scarps to bits and bobs, anything can help a craftsman, so be sure to look into donating that where possible.
- Holiday dishes
Now I will be the last to tell you not to cook traditional holiday dishes or order your favourites. But you can get takeout from places which use sustainable containers. You can try and add a planet-based twist to traditional recipes if your family and you are open to that. And if you can manage to eat local and seasonal while celebrating, that’s awesome! For plant-based sweets in Pune, I often tend to go to Vegan Bakery.
Celebration of holidays and cheer is important. While it shouldn’t come at the cost of people and planet, sustainability shouldn’t make you feel lonely and estranged from things you enjoy either, especially if they are exceptionally important to you. For example, I can give up nail paint and replace my paperbacks with e-books, but I would probably still buy my fiancé non-thrifted gifts because that’s what he enjoys. At the end of the day, it is about seeing where you can reduce and where you can’t. And if you find something you can’t let go off, give sustainable alternatives a shot. The goal is for everyone to be as sustainable as possible, not perfect. Happy rakhi, folks, let me know what you did to celebrate in the comments!
Updated- 17th October, 2023.
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Anjali's Musings 