TODAY is the second day of Navratri. Maa Brahmacharini is worshiped on the second day. She represents ‘penance and ‘patience’. She performed years of penance to marry Lord Shiva and is shown carrying a japa mala and a water pot. Devotees offer her sugar and pray for strength and determination. Every Navratri, the entire family is in a celebratory mood. But at some point of celebrating the festival and savouring snacks, we all forget one thing -- the huge amount of plastic we leave behind. A celebration should leave behind happy memories, not heaps of garbage. Each year, the world produces around 400 million tons of plastic and less than 10 per cent of all the plastic gets recycled. India produces millions of tons of plastic waste every year and during the festival season the use of disposable cups, plates and plastic decorations adds to the problem. The solution is not costly and it is neither exactly new. Our grandparents will remember how meals were served on banana leaves, shopping was done using a cloth ‘jhola’ and nobody called it sustainable living.

 

Today, we can follow the same habits in a modern way: use steel or leaf plates instead of plastic, clay diyas instead of plastic decorations, marigolds and mango leaves for decoration and a refillable bottle with a steel tiffin in our garba bags. But what about the plastic already lying around at home? One option is an ecobrick. To make one, fill an empty plastic bottle with clean, dry wrappers, sachets and packaging film until it is tightly packed. These bottles can be used by some communities to make items such as garden benches, stools and boundary walls. However, reducing plastic use in the first place is always better than trying to manage the waste later. The other part of our pledge is planting. A mature tree absorbs carbon dioxide, provides shelter to birds and insects and helps cool the streets. Therefore, we must Plant, Preserve and Protect our trees.

 

Nowadays, some communities distribute saplings as prasad, a gift that continues to grow long after the festival is over. Grandparents can select the place, parents can dig the hole and children can record the growth. But there is one thing we must remember: Do not plant a tree just for the photograph. Choose a suitable native tree that grows well in your area, needs less water and supports local birds and insects. Planting a tree that consumes too much water in a dry region may create another problem. On the second day of Navratri, when we worship Maa Brahmacharini, let us not forget Dharti Maa, our Mother Earth. The same respect, patience and care that we show towards the Goddess should be reflected in how we treat nature. Worshipping Maa Durga while damaging the Earth makes almost no sense. Nurture Nature. Even our daily travel habits matter. Vehicle pooling can be the new arc of Gen Z and it is also a practical way to reduce fuel consumption, traffic and air pollution. Small changes in our daily routine can lead to bigger results. Navratri celebrates divine feminine power, the power to care, protect and nurture. Mother Earth represents that power in the most visible way. We do not need grand gestures to look after her. Simple changes in our everyday lives, followed by many people, can make a significant difference.Stay Real, Stay Sober.