Green initiative: Plantable seed rakhis enter markets with an aim to transform raksha bandhan traditions

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Raksha Bandhan, symbolizing the enduring bond between brothers and sisters, approaches, the market is bustling with a vibrant array of rakhis. However, what follows this joyous occasion is a disheartening environmental concern – the disposal of these rakhis, which predominantly consist of non-biodegradable materials.

Most rakhis, crafted from plastics and adorned with chemical colors, ultimately find their way to landfills, contributing to environmental pollution.

In response to this pressing issue, Bakul Foundation, a voluntary organization based in Bhubaneswar, has taken an eco-friendly initiative this Raksha Bandhan season by introducing plantable seed rakhis along with saplings as return gifts.

These innovative rakhis are crafted from indigenous and organic cotton thread and incorporate seeds of amaltas, purslane, basil, and beans. These seeds have the remarkable ability to grow into trees.

Notably, if these plantable rakhis and their attached paper are discarded, they readily decompose, and from them, new plants emerge.

Sujit Mahapatra, the founder of Bakul Foundation, emphasized, «We are not a gift shop selling rakhis. We are a movement for volunteerism, trying to demonstrate the power of individual contributions.

We started the My Tree Campaign to promote a personal relationship with trees and to re-establish the importance of trees in our culture through cultural practices. Hence, we focused on the gifting culture, and promoted the idea of gifting plants on any occasion associated with gifting such as Rakhi, Diwali, and even Valentine’s Day.