The Indian wedding industry is pegged at an astronomical US$ 25 billion. The elaborate series of affairs in an Indian wedding makes it have one of the highest carbon footprints weddings in the world. According to a recent survey, young India is very much interested in environment friendly weddings. This can be done in a few simple ways.
Invitation
Traditional paper cards means cutting of trees. A new trend is recycled paper cards ,but the greenest form of invitation electronic invites in form of emails,text messages which are fast, ultra economical and transportation fuel is also saved.
Time and Venue
Winter weddings in India are a lot greener than other seasons as air conditioning energy can be saved. Naturally vented places like open gardens instead of closed halls are definitely a greener bet. Having the wedding on a holiday prevents congestion of traffic and hence saves fuel.
Flowers
The greenest way here is to use potted plants. Going for locally produced flowers is better than imported ones which have too much transportation CO2 attached to them. Organic flowers are softer on the environment. Plastic flowers are slightly greener than natural ones due to the fact that they can be reused.
Lighting
If daylight can be used,there is nothing like it. LEDs are the most eco way of artificial lighting. Alternatively florescent lamps can also be used. Incandescent bulbs are to be strictly avoided. Strategically placing lights is important so as to have proper and efficient lighting.
Power
Using more Solar or any renewable power, grid power to reducing diesel gensets requires proper planning and calculation.
Food
Food is the biggest source of carbon in an Indian wedding - wastage being the primary reason. Careful planning of appropriate quantity is essential to minimize wastage. Plan should be previously made to distribute leftover food among the poor or to waste to energy plants. The menu should be so designed that most food items should not get spoiled quickly. Locally sourced and organically grown food is a good way to lower the carbon footprint. Menu should have a fair share of fruits and salads that do not require cooking. Coconut water instead of packaged drinks is a environmentally beneficial option. Burning wood should be avoided. LPG and electric cooking are more efficient. Earthen plates and leaf plates are a green choice. They decompose when buried in earth and since they are not reusable, washing water is conserved. Thermocol plates are to be avoided. Melamine or ceramic crockery is also moderately green as they can reused many times.
Clothing
Organic clothes are green and in vogue. Care should be taken to go for such a wedding dress that can be re-worn later. Mehndi should be organic and so should sandalwood, sindoor etc.
Wood
Minimizing the amount of wood used in puja can reduce cutting of trees.
Baraat
Minimizing the use of diesel gensets in the processions is essential. Energy efficient lights like LED and florescent lamps should be used. Speakers and amplifiers are to be properly measured and used as per requirement. Fireworks are best avoided. An idea uncommon in India to use hybrid or electric cars in the baraat and they consume very less amount of energy in stop go situations. Otherwise fuel efficient cars should be used. Going traditional with horses or palanquins can save fuel. A new trend set up by an Ollywood actor is using cycle rickshaws instead of cars.
Offset
If greening up is not so possible, one can invest in carbon credits or green projects in order to offset the carbon hence emitted.
Going minimalistic
Slimming down the Big Fat Indian wedding is an option most Indians will not appreciate but it is the greenest form of weddings. Reducing the number of parties, guests or all together eliminating elaborate customs is not only green, but also saves valuable man hours and unpleasant expenses. An average Indian wedding costs 19 lakhs rupees, an amount of money that can very well be put to better use. One way is to take the legal way of marriage. Alternatively adopting minimalistic customs like Arya Samaj in Hindu customs can reduce amount of wood burnt. Going minimalistic is a far fetched thought for the time being as Indian weddings are all about pomp and show. Sadly Indians have to evolve more for adopting this idea. Young India has to stand up so that ills of Indian society like dowry or female foeticide can be eliminated, and yes also get the blessing of Mother Earth.
