Eco-crusader weaves Rakhis to spread awareness on environment

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 5

For over three years, eco-crusader Meenal Verma has been practising eco-Raksha Bandhan. She does not buy any fancy Rakhi from the market for her brother. Instead, she uses the holy mauli threads to weave a rakhi herself using crochet hooks and knitting needles.

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The fancy Rakhis available in market have plastic beads, glitters and synthetic fibres. So, all such Rakhis which are swept away in flowing water the next day or disposed of in any manner are simply adding to the non-biodegradable waste of the city. My concept of eco-Rakhi is just to avoid that. Meenal Verma

She does not just make an eco-Rakhi for herself but has been propagating the concept by teaching the methodology using her social media pages and even gifts within her social circle. “The fancy Rakhis available in market have plastic beads, glitters and synthetic fibres. So, all such Rakhis which are swept away in flowing water the next day or disposed of in any manner are simply adding to the non-biodegradable waste of the city. My concept of eco-Rakhi is just to avoid that,” she shared.

“Initially, I had even sold my crochet Rakhis but I am not doing that any more. There are a whole lot of sustainable Rakhis available online which people can buy as per their choice,” Meenal Verma added.

The online stores are giving options like bamboo rakhis, handcrafted rakhis and even seed rakhis. The bamboo Rakhis has a carved bamboo piece in the centre of the cotton thread. They are coming in combination with eco-friendly gift items like a bamboo tooth brush or a bamboo box.

There also are upcycled Rakhis being handcrafted from scrap clothes, wooden buttons, coconut shells, temple flowers, dried twigs and leaves and other items. They also come with zero-waste items and gift hampers like potpourri, hand-made diary, pouches, rice and kumkum, and the package is priced between Rs 220 to Rs 1,800.

The seed rakhis or the plantable Rakhis have Rakhis with seeds of basil, amaranthus, purslane, pumpkin etc which are plantable or can be kept till the next season. Jankeesh, a collegiate, said, “I have ordered seed rakhi especially this time. The packet shall directly reach my brother based in Bengaluru. I found it to be the most interesting and innovative idea for Raksha Bandhan this time.”