"Troubles as light as Air, love as deep as Ocean, Friends as Solid as Diamonds, And Success as bright as Gold. These are the wishes for you and your family on the day of Dussehra."
With love from the Sui team, we wish you all a happy Dussehra!
Today, we wanted to share a few green tips to keep in mind while you will be enjoying your day full of joy and spending time with loved ones. There are always green steps we can take in our everyday that can make a whole lot of difference, especially if we commit to them collectively. Even if you take one of these tips and use it in your real life, it can do some good for the planet and even serve as an example to others showing them how easy living consciously can be.
But before that, for those who may not be familiar with the celebration, here’s a quick little explanation of what the day is…
Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, Dasara or Dashain, is a Hindu festival that primarily celebrates the notion of good over evil. There are several specific reasons for the celebration that have also resulted in several different kinds of celebrations spanning all over the Indian subcontinent. One of these is to mark the end of Durga Puja in which the goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, the buffalo demon, restores and protects dharma - that is generally the balance of the universe. For a more in-depth explanation, you can read more here.
And so, all over India, many gather at rivers or oceans with clay statues of Durga and other deities to immerse them in the water or build effigies of the evil beings to burn, all to symbolically commemorate the triumph of good. It also marks the beginning and lead-up to Diwali.
So, to continue the sentiment, our green actions also serve as actions of good because we can always find a way to be a little more conscious in the way we live our lives, bringing more positivity and good health to our planet.
Here’s how you can do that:
1. Celebrate in (conscious) style
We know it’s the norm to buy a whole new outfit in preparation for all the celebrations coming up including Dussehra. This year, we urge you to avoid it as much as you can and instead look at the wardrobe you already have and find new ways of reimagining it! It’s all about the way you style something, you may find that by mixing and matching your pieces of clothing, jewelry and shoes in different ways, you discover a whole new look you never thought of before.
If you do buy, we, of course, would rather you choose conscious brands that care about their impact and create with the planet and our communities in mind.
2. Buy less, craft more
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to give your loved ones gifts on this special occasion, however, we do suggest that instead of going out and buying something, you try to create something with your own hands, something from the heart. It can be something as simple as a homemade card paired with a little bag you crafted yourself from upcycled clothes. Materials like plastics that you would usually throw away and be transported to landfills can instead be reused into something decorative - an evil, not destroyed, but transformed into something good! There’s a ton of tutorials you can find online that can help you DIY almost anything so if you love a little project, we urge you to give it a go.
But we do know it’s not for everyone and it takes time to create something. If this is not for you, then we encourage you to...
3. Choosing better
When choosing your gifts, do a little research and/or invest in local crafts. Look for businesses and brands who have strong green values, that you know create their product in an ethical and sustainable way. It would be even better if that gift were also made locally, then you’re able to uplift your community and encourage the cultivation of traditional craft that is unique to the place you live.
Here’s an extra green tip too: avoid wrapping paper if you can, reuse newspapers that can be recycled properly, or use fabric to add a last green touch.
4. Eco-friendly decorations
Plants always brighten up a room so why not use them as your main decorative pieces for the day? They will also remain with you for years to come so there’s no waste involved and you have some green friends for life who will grow with you. Other ways you can stay green are by using diyas to provide pretty natural lighting and upcycling items within your home, whether that’s fabrics braided and hung from the ceiling or glass jars filled with dried flowers or candles.
One thing you can certainly work towards is minimal or no use of single use plastics, items that range from plastic plates and utensils to decorative pieces.
5. A cracker-less celebration
Finally, the last but not least tip we have is to not set off crackers at all! Air pollution within India has, for a very long time, plagued our cities and towns. We have all experienced the day after a celebration where the air is thick with smog and blue skies are nowhere to be seen. So, we urge you to avoid crackers and ask others to do so too in the hope that our air is a little cleaner and we get to see the sunshine in all its glory the next day.
We hope you all have a lovely day wherever you may be, it’s a time to appreciate your loved ones and come together safely and with joy. Stay green 💚