The Haldi-Kumkum Disaster

How “convenience” is killing the “Nature”

Haldi Kumkum or inviting women and girls for tamboolam happens during several occasions each year.  These are times of celebrating womenhood, give good wishes to each other for a good and happy life and show that life can be party while remembering the goddess.  These are fun times where you dress up, meet other ladies and get the tamboolam bags.  But when I come back home and see what I have brought home, I realize that most of it just goes to recycle bin or dry waste.  Then why did I bring them at all?!!    The age of convenience has become an age of unnecessary consumption and killing earth.  I wonder, when this change occurred!!  I suppose most of us have been taken by surprise or probably have not even realized the change.

  

Thamboolam before the era of packaging

Thamboolam in the era of packaging

Even for those of us who are religious in recycling, some of the packaging are so small that it is not even practical to separate the materials to recycle them.

 Haldi-kumkum and beetle nut come in these tiny packets.  Sometimes haldi and kumkum are not really haldi and kumkum but coloured powder that can cause severe reactions.  Moreover most people don't use these.  Why give them at all?   Haldi kumkum can be offered from a bowl, why give to go.  For those few who are particular about this, take a little the effort to pack kumkum in used papers and use dried whole haldi instead.  Beetle nuts are available without packing, where half or whole nuts can be purchased with zero environmental impact. Those who don’t use can just compost.

The return gifts are not needed as most people don't use them.  Especially the blouse pieces which come in their individual plastic wrapping that no one uses in the age of designer blouses.  If you do want to give, a reusable box, a bag or a plant that will be better appreciated.

The glass bangles, who wears them anyway.  After all they don't match any of the dresses that we have and most times they are either too big or too small.  I remember, my mom used to keep multiple sizes and colours in a pile and let the women choose themselves.  Now a days, for convenience, they are prepacked into little carry bags.  Now that means when it’s brought home, highly likely, they are of no use.  

And finally carry bags.  Why can't we just ask the women to bring reusable carry bags like the shops?  Why give those single use plastic or polyurethane bags?  If you do want to give the convenience, then give a bag that can be reused for veggie shopping or pack in old newspapers.  Just a bit of effort from our sides will make a big difference.       

Reused packaging

We have one earth.  So, while keeping the spirit of festivities alive and kicking, let us not kick ourselves out of it!