Sari Christmas tree lights up Primrose Mar Thoma church in Bengaluru | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru:At first glance, the 25ft Christmas tree at Primrose Mar Thoma Church in Bengaluru appears to be like any other traditional tree — towering, festive, and vibrant. However, a closer examination reveals that this tree is unique; it is crafted from old, torn, and discarded saris that were dyed green.Designed and created by the church choir, the eco-friendly ‘sari Christmas tree’ utilises saris donated by church members, which are attached to metal wire frames of varying sizes. Inside the church, wreaths made from waste cloth scraps sourced from a garment manufacturer continue the theme of transforming waste into sustainable decorations.“We sourced the saris, dyed them in various shades of green, and fixed them onto metal frames — all within the span of a month. The Christmas wreaths are also made from discarded cloth scraps, and every part of the tree was created using recycled saris,” said Daniel Thomas, a member of the church.The church has a 17-year-old tradition of using recycled or eco-friendly materials, which began in 2008. That year, the Christmas tree was made from plastic bottles and old tyres. In the following years, creations included decorations made from old videotapes and plastic bags in 2009, dry vegetables and grasses in 2010, jacquard loom cards in 2011, newspapers in 2012, and used plastic covers in 2013. Subsequent years saw Christmas trees crafted from various recycled materials such as soft drink bottles, corrugated boxes, straw, coconut shells, electric wire sleeves, shredded paper, aluminium foil, and strips of bamboo.This year, a church member discovered two saris in the church attic, which inspired the new idea. However, implementing this concept proved more challenging than anticipated — sourcing the saris was difficult.“Women are often emotionally attached to their saris, and even worn-out ones can be difficult to part with,” Daniel explained, noting that 15 to 20 volunteers have worked on the tree installation since late Nov this year. “The message the church wants to convey is that almost anything, especially decorations, can be made using environmentally friendly and locally available materials that are likely lying unused around the house,” he added.— Sanjana Rao & Shriya S
