Eco-friendly offerings the nicer way

Priya S Tandon

We as a race are thrifty and do not believe in wastage. Looking at the number of coconuts being offered at a temple, set my mind thinking about why the coconut is considered so auspicious and pure. Offering a coconut is considered equivalent to offering your head to the deity. Head here means the ego. When we bow to the deity, we do so with humility and reverence, without any trace of ego.

So, why is the coconut considered holy? The rough fibre that covers the coconut is used to make ropes, mattress stuffing, brushes and foot mats. The hard shell is used as a container to drink or as bird feeders or to grow plants. Coconut water or juice is considered to be the most nutritious drink available in natural form, after mother’s milk. It is rich in electrolytes and great for sick people. The coconut kernel, of course, is used for eating raw. It is used extensively in cooking, especially South Indian cuisine. Dried coconut is pressed to extract coconut oil, which is used for cooking, as hair oil and for body massage as it has healing properties and is not corrosive to the skin and hair.

The roots of the tree are used to make dyes, as well as brushes. The leaves are used to thatch roofs, make toys, brooms and mats. The tree trunk is used to make boats, furniture, as well as timber. Nothing goes waste. Each part has utility. And one great property is that coconuts have a great shelf life. They do not rot or go bad easily.

My gaze shifts to a bunch of bananas lying near the altar. Bananas too seem to be a favourite offering to the Lord. I realise that each part of a banana tree too has its uses. To name a few… the banana fruit per se, is one of the most nutritious fruits and is hygienic to eat, being fully covered. The peel of raw bananas can be chopped, stir fried and eaten or can be fed to cattle. The leaves of the banana plant are used as plates to eat in South India.

Raw bananas are also dried to make gluten-free flour. Banana plant stems that fall after heavy rain can be used to extract juices or chopped fine after removing the hard outer skin and sautéed.

Villagers fully know how to utilise everything. The fibres from the outer skin of the stems are used as natural threads to string flower garlands or make baskets. Banana fibres are also blended with cotton to make fabric for garments.

The red flower of the banana plant is also very nutritious and tasty to eat after cooking. The roots have medicinal value and are used in Ayurveda. Little wonder that the banana is an obvious choice for offering while performing rituals. Everything is usable and fully biodegradable. Such a favour to the planet!

Musing further, I wonder why the lotus flower is considered so auspicious.

The Hindus believe that Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi rest on the lotus. Besides, the lotus grows in dirty water, but its leaves and petals do not absorb the water. They remain clean and untainted. The seeds of the lotus flower are roasted and eaten. Phoolmakhana is the new super food that seems to have captured the imagination of health freaks. It is available in many flavours - mint, chaat masala and red chilli. But it’s just the humble Kamal ka Beej in a fancy dress! The stem of lotus is called ‘bhein’. Stir fried and flavoured, it’s a hot favourite on the vegetarian Punjabi and Chinese menus. Lotus flowers are used for garnishing. They also have medicinal properties.

Kamal gatta are the seeds embedded in the conical shaped stigmatic cup. They have a green cover on them with a white kernel inside. Once dried, they can be strung into a ‘japamala’ or roasted and pounded to get phoolmakhana from them! The fruit of the lotus plant is the water chestnut or ‘singhara’. All these edible parts of the lotus plant are highly nutritious.

No wonder the lotus, banana and coconut are considered auspicious! I am often amazed at the thought that has gone into these ancient practices. Everything has logic behind it! And that too eco-friendly!