The Diwali Party held on 20th October at the Wallington United Reform Church saw a gathering of over 60 Hindus who came together to celebrate the festival of lights.
Diwali is a traditional festival celebrated annually by Hindus all across the world. Its origins are recorded in the ‘Ramayan.’ The Ramayan recalls the tales of Lord Rama during his 14 year exile in a forest. His most remembered and decorated escapade was the killing of the demon Ravana. Upon his return, people lit their homes with lamps and candles to welcome him. The story symbolises the victory of light over darkness; good over evil.
Although not as extraordinary as the feat of slaying a notorious demon, the small community of Hindus across Sutton and Croydon worked towards defeating more relevant evils. The lead organiser, Prena Mistry explained, ‘While we can enjoy these occasions, we mustn’t harm the environment.’ By raising awareness of the issue of the deteriorating state of our planet, they encouraged visitors to be more eco-friendly. For example, they advised visitors to bring their own cutlery and plates. This prevented the use of paper plates and cups.
The common misconception remains that all items made of paper can be recycled. Unfortunately, paper plates and cutlery are lined with plastic coatings. The plastic lining ensures that the water doesn’t leak or soak due to the high solubility levels of paper. Although the cups are only made of as little as 5% plastic, it contributes to unprecedented levels of marine pollution. ‘Passportocean’ estimates over 690,000 pieces of plastic cutlery to be in the ocean, which can threaten the welfare of aquatic creatures, which in turn can affect larger ecosystems.
This thoughtful and unique approach helped to enrich the eventful evening. The celebration, which lasted from 6 pm lasted till 9:30 pm was also filled with an entertaining programme of food, dancing, games and competitions that acted as an effective platform to meet and greet fellow Hindus to widen networks and strengthen the overall community. Their fun, yet eco-friendly approach will surely inspire many others who follow their commitment to tradition and our world.
By Krishna Mahendrakar
The Diwali Party held on 20th October at the Wallington United Reform Church saw a gathering of over 60 Hindus who came together to celebrate the festival of lights.
Diwali is a traditional festival celebrated annually by Hindus all across the world. Its origins are recorded in the ‘Ramayan.’ The Ramayan recalls the tales of Rama during his 14 year exile in a forest. His most remembered and decorated escapade was the killing of the demon Ravana. Upon his return, people lit their homes with lamps and candles to welcome him. The story symbolises the victory of light over darkness; good over evil.
Although not as extraordinary as the feat of slaying a notorious demon, the small community of Hindus across Sutton and Croydon worked towards defeating more relevant evils. The lead organiser, Prena Mistry explained, ‘While we can enjoy these occasions, we mustn’t harm the environment.’ By raising awareness of the issue of the deteriorating state of our planet, they encouraged visitors to be more eco-friendly. For example, they advised visitors to bring their own cutlery and plates. This prevented the use of paper plates and cups.
The common misconception remains that all items made of paper can be recycled. Unfortunately, paper plates and cutlery are lined with plastic coatings. The plastic lining ensures that the water doesn’t leak or soak due to the high solubility levels of paper. Although the cups are only made of as little as 5% plastic, it contributes to unprecedented levels of marine pollution. ‘Passportocean’ estimates over 690,000 pieces of plastic cutlery to be in the ocean, which can threaten the welfare of aquatic creatures, which in turn can affect larger ecosystems.
This thoughtful and unique approach helped to enrich the eventful evening. The celebration, which lasted from 6 pm lasted till 9:30 pm was also filled with an entertaining programme of food, dancing, games and competitions that acted as an effective platform to meet and greet fellow Hindus to widen networks and strengthen the overall community. Their fun, yet eco-friendly approach will surely inspire many others who follow their commitment to tradition and our world.
By Krishna Mahendrakar
