In the year 2023, Bengaluru witnessed a remarkable celebration as Anupama Harish and Charulatha R prepared for the wedding of their children, Ashutosh and Nidhi. However, what set this wedding apart was the non-negotiable condition set by the groom’s mother – a plastic-free ceremony. Determined to create a low-waste and environmentally-friendly event, these eco-warrior moms embarked on a mission to host a grand Indian wedding with a difference.
Planning for a Plastic-Free Extravaganza
The two families came together to meticulously plan a wedding that would be plastic-free from start to finish. The effort began with the invitations, which carried a heartfelt request to guests to participate in their “minimum waste wedding.” Steel cutlery was rented, bouquets and gift wrappers were avoided, and innovative ideas were employed to ensure a green affair.
Battling Waste at the Feast
In a country known for lavish and extravagant weddings, food waste stands out as a major contributor to environmental concerns. Anupama and Charulatha opted for a menu that minimised the use of cutlery, served dishes thoughtfully, and made a conscious choice to forgo plastic cups and water bottles. The wedding guests were served on banana leaves and steel plates, keeping plastic waste at bay.
Waste Management – Key to a Plastic-Free Success
To ensure that not a single piece of waste from the wedding ended up in the landfill, Anupama enlisted the help of Vasuki Iyengar, a composting expert from the Solid Waste Management Round Table (SWMRT) Bengaluru. Together, the SWMRT team managed to compost over 1,000 kg of wet waste generated during the three-day wedding celebration, contributing to a cleaner environment.
Ingenious Gift Wrapping and Thoughtful Decorations
Gift-giving is a significant aspect of Indian weddings, and Anupama showcased her ingenuity by using 19-year-old butter paper stowed away from her son’s thread ceremony in 2004 to wrap the guests’ gifts. The presents included naturally dyed blouse pieces and carefully packed arishina kumkuma, showcasing thoughtfulness and sustainability.
A Call to Embrace Plastic-Free Living
Anupama and Charulatha’s journey towards a plastic-free wedding offers inspiration to others to embrace environmentally-conscious choices in their celebrations. They believe that if more wedding ceremonies adopt sustainable practices, it can significantly reduce waste and contribute to a cleaner planet. Revisiting practices from our mothers’ and grandmothers’ time, like sharing cutlery and living with minimal plastic, can pave the way for a greener future.
Anupama and Charulatha’s plastic-free wedding serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration in a world struggling with waste and pollution. Their extraordinary effort in hosting an eco-friendly celebration shows that with determination and innovation, big fat Indian weddings can be transformed into green and sustainable affairs. As we return to natural living practices of the past, we can pave the way for a brighter and greener future for generations to come.
