As the Tricolour flutters in the breeze, patriotic songs play on loudspeakers and neighbourhoods gather to celebrate the 80th Independence Day, Bengaluru eco-activists are urging citizens to rethink the use of balloons in festive décor. Reviving their “No balloons please” campaign, the group is encouraging people to opt for sustainable alternatives that don’t leave behind environmental waste.Sustainability changemaker and writer Odette Katrak, who is leading the awareness drive, says the idea is to make people aware of the impact of balloons while showing how celebrations can be colourful and creative without them. “Last year, we had an owl hanging from a tree outside our building with its wing caught in a string,” she recalls a horrific sight, highlighting how balloon remnants can contaminate the soil and their strings can pose a danger to animals.‘It’s high time we give up balloon releases’“In 2026, when climate change is such a big thing and the environment is so stressed, it’s high time we give up balloon releases,” she says. The campaign encourages decorations made from cloth, paper and flowers. Cloth buntings can be stitched from waste fabric, while old newspapers and magazines can be turned into paper decorations. Flowers, meanwhile, can be composted after use.Citizens are also coming up with creative alternatives. Caring Squares, a group of senior citizens in Malleswaram, has been making vibrant tricolour crochet buntings. The campaign is encouraging local flower vendors to create tricolour floral strings, offering them an additional source of income while reducing dependence on balloons.Odette hopes the campaign will encourage apartments, schools and families to make sustainable decorations part of their celebrations. “There is no shortage of alternatives. What is missing is awareness,” she says, adding, “A decoration does not have to be disposable to be beautiful.”‘Mindful and responsible celebration’For many citizens, the shift is also about making festive celebrations more responsible. “Independence Day is about celebrating our country, so it makes sense to celebrate in a way that is kinder to our surroundings too. Cloth buntings and flowers can make the décor just as colourful without creating unnecessary waste,” says Indiranagar resident Shikha Agarwal.Rathna S, a parent and resident of Jayanagar, shares, “We have started using reusable fabric and paper decorations at home instead of balloons. It is also a nice activity for children because they can learn to celebrate more responsibly.”Skip balloons, choose better:
- Cloth: Reusable buntings from old or waste fabric
- Paper: DIY flags and décor from old newspaper
- Flowers: Tricolour garlands with jasmine and kanakambara
- Crochet: Durable buntings you can reuse every year
- Upcycling: Household scrap turned into festive decorations
