6 Sustainable Ways to Celebrate Hari Raya

With a big celebration like Hari Raya coming up soon, you may find it hard to find eco-friendly ways to celebrate without feeling guilty at the easily generated trash and carbon footprint.

Here are some tips to help you reduce trash and celebrate a Sustainable Hari Raya:

Explore Straw Alternatives

There are plenty of plastic alternatives, but the best one has to be lemongrass straws. You can easily get a large bundle of lemongrass for cheap, it adds a wonderful flavor to your drinks, and best of all these straws look awesome.

Prepare Your Own Drinks

No need for packaged drinks. All you need is a large pitcher, glass jar, or a drink dispenser. If you host parties often, it’s a good idea to invest in one that you can reuse each time.

Mix your own cordials and be generous with a hearty dash of cut fruits.

Reuse Duit Raya Packets

If you already have a collection of your favorite packets, that's great. Keep the Hari Raya packets and let your parents reuse them next year. Or, if you are meant to give them out, ask your younger siblings or relatives if they can help keep the nicer packets.

Have Your Guests Bring Their Own Containers

Ask your guests to bring along their own containers and reusable utensils. Tell them that they are welcome to bring home food as long as they have their own containers.This way you won’t have food waste, your guests will be happy, and you don’t have to wash the dishes.

DIY Your Own Pelita Lamps

There’s no need to spend money buying Pelita lamps you would only use once. You can now make them easily out of anything, such as soft drink cans or glass jars. If you are worried about open fire, there are plenty options to buy reusable LED lamps that look like the real thing, and you can always keep them for future use.

Hari Raya Clothes Exchange

The best way to keep your Raya wardrobe fresh and up-to-date is a clothes swap. Find a friend of similar size and simply exchange Hari Raya clothes. If not, there are always pre-loved options on online platforms or clothes swap parties you can join. It costs so much less than brand new clothes and it’s so good for the environment as well.