While sweets and firecrackers have been a quintessential part of Diwali, we cannot ignore the fact that the fireworks have severe effects on human health and the environment. Besides, using these items exploits the marginalised communities. So, why not have an eco-friendly Diwali celebration this year? The Gramart Project has launched a new initiative with ‘seed crackers’ and ‘seed sweets’ to provide exploitation-free alternatives to the current methods of celebrations.
Also read: Rajasthan Bans Sale Of Crackers This Diwali To Combat COVID-19 Pandemic
Seed Crackers
The seed crackers will keep the spirit of Diwali alive while avoiding noise, smoke, and bright lights that affect the birds and animals. The artisans spent weeks teaching rural women across Paradsinga village in Madhya Pradesh to make crackers from waste paper with seeds embedded in them. These seed crackers will help people to spend Diwali in an eco-friendly way and use something constructive. Ladis are laced with microgreens, chakkars with onion seeds, bombs with roselle seeds and more.
While you cannot light these crackers, you can sow them in soil, water it, and watch it grow. You can buy these seed crackers from 21 fools, an e-commerce platform which is offering packages along with coco peat disc and coir pots to plant them in. Gujarat’s Tent City Kutch To Reopen To Tourists Before Diwali On Nov 12.
Seed Sweets
Apart from the crackers, sweets also have seeds embedded in them. The sweets with live seeds are being made to look like laddoos, cham-chams, and cookies. Sow them in soil or cocoa peat and watch them grow within a few months. The sweets are made using water paper from paper mills and printing presses. Once the artisans worked out a process to design and create the sweets, small workshops were organised for women interested. They were taught the process and given the necessary raw materials. The finished products are either shipped directly to the customers or sent to vendors who distribute the products from their e-commerce platform. These 5 Artisanal Mithaiwalas In Delhi Will Sweeten Up Your Diwali With A Twist.
Use these seed sweets and crackers to celebrate Diwali in an eco-friendly way.