Golu gifts get green twist

CHENNAI: Plaster of Paris statues were what she gifted her guests last Navratri. However, Shri Bala decided to go green this time. The chef, who has a passion for DIY, sat down with her daughter and handcrafted charcoal-based soaps for all the friends and relatives she expected to drop in to see her golu.
"I get ideas from watching tutorials online. Charcoal is all the rage now as it is good for health and skin so I used it as the main ingredient in the soaps, which also has some rose essence in it," says Shri Bala, who came up with the idea more than a month ago."We have made around 60 soaps."
The drive against plastic is only getting stronger and even a small step can go a long way in making a difference. Many Chennaiites are using the festival season to spread the message by opting to give eco-friendly return gifts to those who come visiting. Jute and cloth bags and purses, clay lamps, ceramic bowls, and upcycled bottles are some of the things that are popular this season.

Like the handmade soaps that seem to be the popular choice for thamboolams, so are the DIY snana podis or bathing powders. Several homemakers in the city have taken to mixing together the herbal powder — a mix of rice flour, turmeric, rose petals, sandalwood and dried herbs — which is then packaged in eco-friendly paper bags, to be gifted this season.
Upasika Maithreya chose pencils made of recycled paper, which also contains seeds. "It has a double utility as a writing instrument and also as something that can be planted after use," says the Adyar resident, who chose it over seed balls or saplings. "Since the gifts are for youngsters, I felt it would be interesting and could inspire them to try their hand at gardening. The seeds are of smaller plants such as spinach or tomato, so it can be planted in any pot even if you don’t have a garden," she says.
Looking for an alternative to the usual container boxes, pouches or plastic toys, which are usually gifted, Ashwini G chanced upon bamboo straws. "We have been trying to cut down the use of plastic at home and the bamboo straw seemed an ideal gift, especially for kids who find it fascinating," says the mother of two, who feels that teaching kids helps pave the way to a healthy, environment-friendly lifestyle.
The straws have been among the most popular items, besides jute bags and hand-painted coasters this season at the handicrafts store Moksh Jute Shop. "The decision by the government to ban plastic has made people sit and take notice of the alternate options," says Digpal Jain of the store which sources products from several NGOs across the country.