Students at The Green School Bangalore Celebrate Navaratri with Eco-friendly Dolls

The students at The Green School Bangalore (TGSB) are preparing to celebrate Navaratri with dolls crafted from recycled materials. Students from classes 3 to 9 have been engaged over the past 15 days in creating ‘Gombes’ representing figures such as Durga, Seetha, Rama, and Ravana in anticipation of the Navaratri festival, followed by Dasara.

“The students were advised to collect waste materials such as coconut shells, eggshells, plastic bottles, old fabric, and decorative pearls from their home and neighbourhood,” explained Bhaskar Sutradhar, an art teacher at TGSB. “They were then asked to deposit them in the collection box in every classroom to use during their art class. Some students even made them at home with family assistance.”

Sthuthi, a Grade 6 student, expressed her enthusiasm to showcase the handmade dolls, noting, “Our teachers have encouraged us to create these dolls from waste materials to drive home the message of the 3 R’s – ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.'”

Adwitiya, a Grade 5 student, added, “Every doll is meant to bring a unique narrative to the display, whether it depicts mythological figures or everyday characters.” The initiative is designed to enhance experiential learning, combining international educational skills with the rich culture of South India, according to Manju Chakrawati, the school’s headteacher.

Mona Mohan, Deputy School Head, remarked, “This doll-making activity is intended to highlight creativity, teamwork, and cultural pride while enabling students to express their talents enthusiastically, creating an experience of joy and accomplishment with a strong appreciation for our environment and cultural history.”

The activity is part of the school’s Socially Useful Productive Work (SUPW) programme. School officials and students are exploring the possibility of selling the dolls as part of their Young Entrepreneur Programme. “We encourage students to value money by earning it themselves,” said Usha Iyer, the Principal of TGSB. “This teaches them to differentiate between need and greed, fostering independence and the ability to voice their opinions.”

TGSB prides itself on being a zero energy, zero carbon, and zero waste school, having adopted the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030.