India is a land of festivals; celebrations go on all year round. During festivals, family and relatives plan get-togethers- every single one of us saves time from our bustling schedules to go to the occasion. Part of the celebration involves catching up on each other’s lives. One such festival is Raksha Bandhan. The tray of ladoos and samosas gets passed from one-person to another along with the family gossip. It’s all laughs and sweet memories in the making. One more thing that make festivities so special is gifts! Gifts are not only mere objects but symbols of love and appreciation. Unique and personalized gifts make a lasting impact and add to the joy of the occasion. Now, what if you were told you could give personalized unique gifts that produce minimal waste and are best friends with the planet? Super cool, isn’t it? So, this Raksha Bandhan, make the same commitment of protection to your siblings and to the environment.
- A RAKHI THAT ACTUALLY GROWS
This year tie a rakhi that also binds you closer to nature. The pandemic sure sucked a lot of joy from festivals but it also got us closer to family than ever before. A personal and handcrafted rakhi will not only add a personal touch but also help the environment get rid of plastic rakhis. There are several ways to DIY your rakhi ranging from using simple paper quills and flowers to sewing and creating your own designs. You can also opt for rakhis embedded with lotus and sunflower seeds. Plantable and clay rakhi sets are the new trends!
- HAND-CRAFT YOUR CARDS FROM YOUR OWN PAPER
Do you have a pile of old newspapers that you will probably sell off to the “raddi wala”? Here’s an inquisitive alternative – you could actually make your very own handmade paper. Who doesn’t like a little aesthetic vibe to their art? Handmade gifts hold a special place in everybody’s heart. They show the effort and time taken by the other person to invest in a gift for you. This rakhi, make your own paper from old newspapers and get your creative mode on to create a cute and affectionate card that they will cherish forever.
- CURATE A SELF-CARE HAMPER FOR YOUR SIBLINGS
If your siblings love trying out new skin and hair care products, there are plenty of personal care options. Tell your siblings you care about them even though you make fun of them all the time with a self-care hamper that looks after your siblings and also the environment. Right from hand-poured aroma candles to organic baths and face masks, bring to your loved ones a replenishing and unique experience of what nature has to offer. It’s unique because it’s eco-friendly. A self-care hamper enclosing essential oils, organic baths and moisturizers, aloe-vera face masks along with terracotta scrubs and bamboo toothbrushes seems like the perfect gifting option for this Raksha Bandhan!
- TAKE A TRIP INTO THE WOODS
A scenic view, a cup of chai and your favourite people-what better way to celebrate the occasion? Celebrate this festival in the lap of nature, away from the hustle bustle of the city. Turn your phone off and re-visit childhood stories and make many more memories. Sing aloud old songs and play dumb charades. Go camping and hiking in the depths of the woods and explore the unexplored!
- WANT IT? THRIFT IT
Do you have a shopaholic fashionista sibling? Thrifting serves as a great option to gratify their changing styles and also reduces the burden on the already overflowing landfills. There is a lot of stigma surrounding thrifting as people feel uneasy wearing “worn clothes”. However, many products on thrift stores are brand new or as good as new. Thrifting products help create a more sustainable society.
- GO OLD-SCHOOL
Instead of the conventional board games, explore history and the environment through board games made out of old cartons or by block painting on old pieces of cloth. Get your younger ones to think about the environment whilst enjoying a board game. Sit with your grandma and learn forgotten arts such as embroidery and explore family recipes. Engage in games you used to play as a child and take a trip down memory lane with your young ones.
At the end of the day, there’s no greater present for your adored one than a sound, clean, and green planet! Nobody knows your siblings better than you do and that is why you always make sure to give them a gift that they will cherish. Whether you make them a gift, thrift it or buy it, ensure you engage in an eco-friendly process and incorporate organic products and brands that produce minimal waste.
Whatever gift you decide to buy or make, make sure you wrap your gifts with love in 100% post- consumer recycled boxes and engage in promoting minimal waste and low carbon impact.
Written by, Aastha Khera
