During Diwali, people bring home new idols of Mata Lakshmi and Lord Ganesha and replace them with the old ones. Not only this, but people all buy essentials for Diwali puja. But many do not know what to do with the old idols and puja essentials after the celebrations.
The leftover of our prayer offering process is a big issue to dispose of, and in the fast-moving life giving it proper disposal could be tough.
Upcycle Your Flowers After Puja
Make Potpourri
You would have seen potpourri being sold at several stores around you. Now you can make your own potpourri at home, with your used puja flowers. Just dry the flowers until they are crispy. Transfer these flowers to an airtight container, add your favourite fragrant spices like cloves or cinnamon, and essential oils of your choice. Allow these ingredients to mature for 10 days. Your homemade potpourri is now ready!
Make Floral Stationery
Dry or press the used puja flowers for a few days. Once the flowers have become stiff, laminate them and use them to create floral patterns on diary covers or inner pages, bookmarks, note cards, wrapping papers, etc.
Make Flower Soap
Add your used flower petals (dried crushed or paste), 100% sodium hydroxide, favourite soap colours, essential oils and herbs in a mixing bowl. Stir everything well and add it to a silicone soap mould. Allow the soap to sit for at least 2 days until the soap turns cold and firm. Your homemade soap is now ready!
Make Compost
Since most of us don’t want to mix the puja flowers with regular trash, we can turn it into compost easily. To the compost bin, add layers of flowers and dry leaves alternatively. Spray each layer with water to begin the process of maturing. Mix the pile once a week until all the leaves and flowers have become compost. This process usually takes 3-6 months. Once the compost is ready, add it to your plants!
What to do with used Diyas after Diwali?
Every Hindu household uses Diyas for pooja and decoration in their house during Diwali. Every year we buy new Diyas but don’t know what to do with the old ones. In India, these Diyas are thrown into rivers or ponds, but it is impossible to do this in UAE as laws are very strict for disposal in the ocean. Residents can do the following practice.
Clay Diyas
If you purchased environmentally friendly clay diyas, it is easy to get rid of them. Immerse them in a bucket of water, and they will dismantle themselves in a few days. You can use this mud in your garden pots.
The decorative Diyas
If you purchased decorative baked diyas, it is hard to get them decomposed in a bucket of water. One way is to bury them in Earth (it might take a few years till they get disintegrated)
The best way is to seal the diyas in a paper bag, so they don’t get scattered and dispose of them in the General Waste section of the recycling waste bin (It is coded with Black colour)
you can also repurpose the used Diyas with a lot of craft ideas on youtube
What to do with Akshat after Pooja?
Akshat means whole rice grain. It is usually mixed with kumkum and Haldi and then used in Puja rituals. Akshat retails Shakti and Chaitanya of the Puja. During Diwali, Akshat is believed to bring prosperity to the household and business. It is not shubh to dispose of Akshat in the river/ pond.
Use a small red cloth to tie Akshat and keep them in your locker or business place. This will bring peace and prosperity and improve your income.
If the above is not possible, wash Akshat rice and feed them to birds.
You can also put used Akshat rice in your Tulsi plant pot.
What to do with Nariyal/ coconut after Pooja?
Coconut is an indispensable part of Hindu pujas and rituals. It is placed on the Kalash (filled with water and worshipped during pujas) and finds a sacred spot on the altar too.
After Pooja, this Nariyal should be broken, consumed, and distributed as prasad.
If the above is impossible, then the coconut could be used in havan kund.
You can also use the leftover nariyal for cooking sweets.
Other pooja items
Chunni: The used chunni could be kept in your locker. If this is not feasible, then use it as chadawa during your next trip to mandir/ temple
Kalawa/ Moli: Moli should be used and tied to all the family members. Keep renewing as and when it is required.
Janeu: To be used as Chadawa during your trip to Mandir or can be buried in Earth.
Roli/ kumkum: Ladies can use the leftover kumkum to fill their Mang
Havan Pujan: the leftover havan samagri and ashes after havan should never be disposed of in Water or a dustbin. Always bury them in the earth in a heighted place.
Apart from the above other leftover items like Haldi, laung (clove), Elaichi (Cardamom), honey, kheel, batashe, Ghee, Mishri, mustard etc could be consumed as prasad in your daily cooking. To maintain 100% devotional energy, please always make sure to buy good quality pujan samagri, which you can consume yourself. On the other hand, never use products from your kitchen use for puja. The products purchased for self-consumption have become Jootha and no longer fit Puja purposes.
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