◊ By Pure & Eco India

AMadhya Pradesh-based company called Gram Art Project has launched a range of Seed Patakhas for those who wish to celebrate a Green Diwali this year. These faux crackers appear to be exactly like the fire crackers we are accustomed to seeing and hearing every Diwali but they’re actually not meant to be lit.

One is supposed to sow them and plant them, and wait for the cracker to hatch into a live plant eventually.

These Seed Patakhas are:

• Pollution-free
• Biodegradable & Recyclable
• Made from waste paper & recycled material
• Plantable & embedded with live seeds
• Handmade by rural women

The List of Patakas & the Seeds inside them are as follows:

1. Microgreen Ladi: Seeds inside are of Red Amaranthus, Green Amaranth, Senna tora, Radish, Mustard, Purslane and Spinach
2. Dhaniya Tikli: Coriander seeds
3. Cucumber Rocket: Seeds of Cucumber
4. Anaar: Seeds of Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula) & Agastya (Sesbania grandiflora)
5. Onion Chakri: Seeds of Onion
6. Hemp Bomb: Seeds of Roselle
7. Laxmi Bomb: Seeds of Bauhinia racemosa (Sonapatti/Apta) and Okra
8. Genda Guard: Seeds of Marigold and Brinjal
9. Methi Roll Caps: Seeds of Fenugreek
10. Loose Ladi: Seeds of Tomato, Guar (Cluster Beans), Chilli

The Microgreen Ladi contains 7 pairs of microgreen seeds for each day of the week. Separate each set, sow in different pots and water regularly. Your microgreens will be ready for consumption within a month.

The Onion Chakri will grow into an onion plant when sown and won’t be causing any air pollution like its authentic firecracker counterparts.

The Hemp Bomb contains Roselle seeds. Roselle is a type of natural plant fibre. In addition to its leaves, its fruits and seeds can also be consumed, and the plant stock can be processed to beget hemp/jute ropes.

Undo the ropes around the bomb, take out the seed ball inside the paper wrapping, sow the ball and water regularly to see it grow!

The Laxmi Bomb has in it seeds of Sonapatti which has many medicinal properties and is used for treating headache, fever, skin diseases, blood diseases, dysentery and diarrhoea.

The Cucumber Rocket has seeds of cucumber. Turn the rocket upside down, put the cracker part of it in the soil, tie one end of a string to the end of the stick of this rocket and the other end to a spot at a higher level and water regularly. The cucumber rocket will gradually climb upwards with the help of the string.

SEED MITHAI

The seed-obsessed company (it also makes seed-embedded organic cotton rakhis every Rakshabandhan) also makes faux Mithai, ie, papier-mâché sweets (resembling barfi, laddu and chamcham) with seeds embedded in them.

Seed Mithai is an alternative to sugar-laden mithais. These are actually seed balls made from waste paper, are biodegradable and will grow into homegrown veggies.

These patakhas and mithais may be make-believe but they will lead to the beautiful reality of you growing and eating your own fresh produce.