Onam is a festival I have always liked. I am looking forward to celebrating it with my family every year, decorating our house, cooking in the traditional way, and feeling the coziness of togetherness. However, this year I chose another way; I made my Onam celebration green.
I also did not want to stop doing green Onam practices and sustainable Onam practices and remain stuck in the traditions. I will use this blog to tell you how I managed to plan and enjoy eco-friendly Onam celebrations and think sustainably. I will alsoprovide you with practical tips, professional advice, and innovative ideas to make your Onam greener and more meaningful.
Why Eco-friendly Onam Celebrations Matter?
To me, Onam is not only a festival, but it is also one occasion in which we can celebrate the abundance of nature and the rich traditions that Kerala has to offer. But over the years I saw just how much waste we make—plastic decorations and chemical colors in flower carpets.
A green Onam festival assists us:
- Protect the environment
- Reduce plastic waste
- Support local artisans and farmers
- Educate the future on sustainability.
I wanted my Onam this year to embrace my love to culture and to nature.
Planning Onam, My Green Onam.
The decision to use Sustainable Decorations.
I began to avoid using plastic ornaments and used biodegradable ornaments. I employed hand-painted clay diyas, fresh flowers, and banana leaves. These gave a rustic and natural effect to my home.
Read more :- Ganpati Bappa Morya! A Gujarati Twist to the Grand Celebration
Sustainable Flower Arrangements for Onam
I purchased organic, local flowers as opposed to purchasing chemically colored flowers, which are very expensive. I also got to know how to prepare sustainable flower arrangements during Onam using the same flowers to do several arrangements.
Green Pookalam Designs
My best part of Onam is the designing of the Pookalam. This year, I:
- Reused organic flowers of the neighbouring farms.
- Stirred in with dry petals to save on wastage.
- Dropped synthetic colors and became all natural.
- It was so pretty, and so colorful and free of guilt!
It looked beautiful, vibrant, and guilt-free!
Eco-friendly Onam Feast: A Plant-based Sadya
Onam cannot be complete without the Onam Sadya. To keep it eco-friendly, I:
- Prepared with vegetables that are locally available.
- Chose organic rice and spices
- Skipped using plastic packaging by making purchases at local farmers markets.
I also used banana leaves to serve the Sadya, which is both customary, and 100% biodegradable.
Blending Tradition With Sustainability
I realized that embracing traditional Onam with modern sustainability doesn’t mean giving up our customs. It simply means making smarter choices:
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Coconut leaf decorations instead of plastic streamers
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Clay lamps instead of LED lights
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Handwoven attire from local artisans instead of fast fashion
By doing this, we support Kerala’s eco-conscious festivals and help keep our traditions alive.
Expert Opinions on Sustainable Onam
To make my celebration more meaningful, I spoke to Dr. Meera Nair, an environmental activist from Kerala:
“Onam reflects Kerala’s deep connection with nature. By celebrating eco-friendly Onam, we respect the land that sustains us. Small steps like reducing plastic, using local flowers, and avoiding chemical colors make a huge difference.”
Her advice inspired me to be more mindful of every little detail.
My Experience: A Greener, Happier Onam
This Onam felt special. I did not only party but was also able to become one with nature, patronize local farmers, and minimizewaste. My family was fond of that notion, and even children came to know why sustainability is important.
I have understood that not only saving the planet, but also making the festival more real and personal are the results of eco-friendly Onam celebrations.
Tips for Your Own Eco-friendly Onam Celebrations
- Use natural decorations like banana leaves, coconut leaves, and clay diyas
- Choose organic flowers and sustainable flower arrangements
- Shop local to conserve carbon footprint and help farmers.
- Use no plastic dishes, put Sadya on banana leaves.
- Use and recycle whenever feasible.
FAQs on Eco-friendly Onam Celebrations
1. What I need to do is make my Onam Pookalam green.
Use natural flowers, dry flowers and do not use chemical dyes. Also, later you can use flowers as compost.
2. Can you have a zero-waste Onam?
Yes! You can contribute towards a near zero-waste party by using biodegradable plates, not using plastic, and composting food waste.
3. Are eco-friendly decorations expensive?
Not at all. Actually, natural ornaments such as coconut leaves and banana leaves tend to be cheaper as compared to artificial ones.
4. What can children do to engage in sustainable practices of Onam?
Challenge them to assist in the planning of environment-friendly Pookalams, plant saplings and knowledge on the traditions of Kerala.
Final Thoughts
This year, I also learned that having eco-friendly Onam celebrations is not a decision but a duty. With a fusion of the green Onam traditions and the green Onam practices, we can respect our culture and our planet. I really feel that with a conscious celebration of Onam, Onam will be more significant and happier.
