This Janmashtami, Let Sustainability Be Your Devotion with These 8 Green Rituals

The appeal of the Janmashtami celebrations with colourful streets to children dressed as Krishna or Radha, frequently hides something less festive: the trash and pollution they bring on.
The plastic buntings, the water-activated synthetic paints which will soon turn colours if you pour water on them, the gulal smeared with chemicals, and most of all those Plaster of Paris idols, they may look fine for a day, but wreak havoc irreparably in rivers, earth, and atmosphere over the years. It is ironic, isn't it, to celebrate Kanha, the boy brought up and born in the fields of Vrindavan, with products destroying nature itself.
So, here’s how you can celebrate Janmashtami while honouring the Mother Earth.


Decor forms the core of Janmashtami, starting from temple mandaps to domestic jhulas for baby Krishna. But rather than usual fancy PVC streamers or thermocol backdrops, use eco-friendly materials such as banana leaves, marigold garlands, and others.
Why it works: Decor made of nature will easily decompose, leaving nothing behind in the way of waste. And flowers, leaves, and fabrics provide a more real, traditional beauty than anything man-made could ever produce.
If you need a few ideas to begin with well it’s easy, think about all those settings they show in shows and serials on Krishna and let your creativity surprise you. For starters, you can create torans (door hangings) with fresh mango leaves or dried palm fronds. And it takes simply a few rusty dupattas or sarees in your home to make lively buntings. You can raise your overall look by decorating your setting with earthen pots, bamboo baskets, and hand-painted clay panels. In this way, your decorations will look great and give off soft scents to the festival, which is the rustic earth origin of the festival.


Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols can be inexpensive and readily available, but are one of the most dangerous options for any festival. PoP is not water-soluble, produces toxic chemicals when immersed, and perturbs aquatic life. Clay idols, however, are entirely natural, biodegradable, and carry a great cultural connotation.
Benefits of clay idols:

• In several hours they dissolve in water and thus do not emit any harmful residues.
• Made in a traditional way by hand, it helps local craftsmen.
• The clay idol could be used again the following year, if not immersed.

Pro Tip: If you’re worried about immersion, you can try considering symbolic immersion in a bucket at home and then using the water to nourish plants. It is a perfect way to keep the divine energy in your home while honoring the Earth at the same time.


Rangolis form a major part of many festivities and thus are significant for the Janmashtami celebrations as well. They are seen especially at the temple entrances and courtyards. However, synthetic colors that people use for rangoli making, are loaded with chemicals and microplastics. The way out? Plant-based, food-safe colors that are both soil and children friendly. Or the classic rangoli made of flowers.
How to prepare natural colors at home:

• Yellow: Turmeric powder is to be mixed with rice flour.
• Green: Spinach leaves or henna powder are to be ground.
• Red/Pink: If you dry and grind rose petals or hibiscus flowers, you will get the color.
• Blue: Indigo should be converted into powder or butterfly pea flowers used.

These colors are not only environmentally friendly but also have an intense, earthy tone that the synthetic colors don't.

The Dahi Handi or pot-breaking ceremony is perhaps the most exciting sight of Janmashtami. But numerous follow-ups include using single-use painted clay pots or plastic pots, which are thrown away once the ceremony is completed. Use strong, long-lasting metal or clay matkis instead.
Creative touch: Decorate the matki with cloth, mirror, and wash-off paint so you can refresh it every year.
Post-festival utility: Store grains, pickles, or even use it as a plant pot, reminding you of the festival season.


One of the major elements of Janmashtami is lighting, as the temples and houses can be seen beautifully lit in the dark.Lights made of LED or solar-powered string lights must replace high-energy halogen or fairy lights.
Reasons which explain the effect is that the LEDs consume less energy, have more longevity, and keep cool, therefore they are the safest lights that can be placed near fabrics and flowers.
Green tips: Take the help of clay or coconut shell diyas with pure ghee or mustard oil to bring a deep and natural glow to your home.


The beauty of Janmashtami is in its bhog, offering to Lord Krishna. Use banana or sal leaves, or you can also choose reusable steel plates to serve prasad instead of plastic plates or packets. The seasonal fruits, homemade sweets, and locally produced dairy items can be utilised to leave a smaller carbon footprint.
Extra suggestion: Request attendees to provide prasad containers which will make the event fully free of disposable packages.


A truly sustainable Janmashtami becomes more powerful when the entire community participates. Organize a ‘Green Janmashtami’ drive in your locality:

• Host workshops on making natural colors or clay idol crafting.
• Host group décor-making sessions using recycled materials.
• Give away the extra flowers and fruits to orphanages or shelters after the event.

Allowing others to participate, you do not only broaden the sphere of influence but also ensure sustained awareness and involvement.


One of the pleasures of Janmashtami preparations is getting crafty. Rather than purchase new decorations, look around you to see what you can reuse:

• Old sarees can be used as temple backdrops.
• Glass jars can be converted into lamp lanterns with Krishna hand painting.
• Old wood can be transformed into swings for baby Krishna.

Janmashtami is the celebration of the life of Lord Krishna, who lived his life among the cows, rivers, forests, and fields. To celebrate him in a manner justifiably true, our celebration should preserve the kind of world he adored.
Through selecting biodegradable decorations, clay idols, plant-based dye, and reusable festival products, we are not only minimizing waste; we are making a religious point. We are declaring that spirituality is not about bigness in terms of consumption at the expense of the environment, but about coexistence between religion and nature.
This year, let us make Janmashtami an offering to Krishna, yes, but to the Earth too. After all, the most holy celebration is one that leaves nothing behind but love, joy, and memories.

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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. What are eco-friendly ways to celebrate Janmashtami?
   Use biodegradable decor, clay idols, natural colors, and reusable items to honor Krishna and the Earth.
2. How can I make Janmashtami celebrations child-safe and eco-friendly?
   Use food-safe natural colors, avoid synthetic decor, and involve kids in DIY crafts with recycled materials.
3. What is the significance of Dahi Handi?
   Dahi Handi reenacts Krishna’s playful butter theft and is celebrated with human pyramids breaking clay pots filled with treats.
4. What foods are eaten to break the Janmashtami fast?
   Devotees break the fast with sattvic foods like fruits, milk-based sweets, and dishes made without onion or garlic.