Amid grand celebrations, festive gatherings and exchanging gifts, making sustainable choices may be challenging for most people. However, for Dia Mirza, every day is about making mindful choices and she says that it’s even more important during festivals. “When you choose to live mindfully and consciously, all your choices are impacted, even how you celebrate festivals,” she says.

Reminiscing about her childhood days, Dia says, “I am lucky to have been raised by a mother who’s always been earth-friendly. As a kid, I used to light mitti diyas on Diwali. While I was in school, I discovered that many children were involved in making crackers and I didn’t want to burst any crackers. At that time, air pollution wasn’t a point of discussion, today it is. We are living in an over-consumptive world and the exploitative nature is causing a complete imbalance in the natural world, severely impacting human health, peace and progress.”

Dia’s son Avyaan’s eco-friendly birthday party set an example for how big days can be celebrated responsibly, including festivals. Talking about how any festive gathering can be plastic-free, Dia says, “We must celebrate the birth of our loved ones, but I don’t understand why we would include something that harms life, like a balloon. There are small measures that one that we can take up like finding alternatives to the usual decor, using reusable cutlery, celebrating in natural settings and minimizing waste.”

Adding, she says, “Special days, weddings and festivals can be celebrated minimally, sustainably and without harming anyone. I feel, if the intention is to be sustainable during the festive season, we all can find a way.”

“For me, Diwali is about lighting people’s lives and making a difference. It has always been about being generous and supporting people and communities. Diwali is about gifting other people happiness and bringing joy. For years, I used to gift handmade diyas made by Cancer Patients Aid Association for Diwali. Now, I either gift experiences to friends and family members or I plant a tree in their name for festivals or special days.”