The Diwali subscription exchange
The Hindu
Eco-vouchers for heritage rice, organic produce, and home care. Here are gifts you’re sure they won’t return
The last few years have not only seen the rise of the ‘conscious’ consumer, but also one who gifts differently. Be it saplings, earthenware diyas or plantable cards and crackers, there is a noticeable shift in the way we share — goodbye plastic lights and synthetic idols that are either dumped in the loft or passed on to a neighbour! Now, the gifts are cherished and actually put to use.
Also finding place in our local markets are zero-waste stores (Jonah Fernandes and Eldridge Lobo’s Ecoposro in Goa, Pune’s Adrish, Bittu John’s plastic-free 7 to 9 Green Store in Ernakulam), entrepreneurs crafting everything plantable, and home bakers dishing out edible fireworks.
So this year, sweets hampers aside, here are our picks for those looking to give their festivities a green twist:

In October this year, India announced its intention to build Maitri II, the country’s newest research station in Antarctica and India’s fourth, about 40 forty-odd years after the first permanent research station in Antarctica, Dakshin Gangotri, was established. The Hindu talks to Dr Harsh K Gupta, who led the team that established it

How do you create a Christmas tree with crochet? Take notes from crochet artist Sheena Pereira, who co-founded Goa-based Crochet Collective with crocheter Sharmila Majumdar in 2025. Their artwork takes centre stage at the Where We Gather exhibit, which is part of Festivals of Goa, an ongoing exhibition hosted by the Museum of Goa. The collective’s multi-hued, 18-foot crochet Christmas tree has been put together by 25 women from across the State. “I’ve always thought of doing an installation with crochet. So, we thought of doing something throughout the year that would culminate at the year end; something that would resonate with Christmas message — peace, hope, joy, love,” explains Sheena.

Max Born made many contributions to quantum theory. This said, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for physics in 1954 for establishing the statistical interpretation of the ____________. Fill in the blank with the name of an object central to quantum theory but whose exact nature is still not fully understood.










