11 Ganesh Chaturthi Eco-Friendly Celebration Ideas

5. DIY Recycled Decorations and Upcycled Art

Turn newspaper, old greeting cards, and cardboard boxes into charming festival décor with low cost and low waste. Paper-mâché is an easy craft for all ages using torn paper, flour-and-water paste, and a mould made from a milk bottle or small bowl. Paint with water-based, food-grade colours, and seal with a washed-down mixture of rice starch if you want durability. Mason jars, used spice tins, and broken bangles can be reinvented as lamp covers or garlands when wrapped with yarn and beads. For a playful spot in the home, build a mini Ganesh from stacked recycled boxes, then cover with hand-cut fabric scraps and fresh flowers. This method saves money and gives kids a practical way to value reuse. After the festival, store useful pieces or gift them to friends. If a decoration is no longer wanted, shred it into compost-safe material or recycle it through local paper recycling. These projects echo the resourcefulness found in many Indian homes, where nothing useful was tossed without a second thought.