There is a green message in a bottle, or 35,000 bottles to be apt. The Cooperage Garden in South Mumbai is playing host to a very sizeable, sustainable kandeel (lantern) this Diwali. The Inner Wheel District 314, helmed by district chairman Prerana Raichur, collaborated with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) A ward to inaugurate an art installation that gives an eco-conscious twist to Diwali. The lantern was installed on Sunday (October 27) evening.

A gigantic kandeel is turning heads not just because of its size but the green Diwali message it conveys. The kandeel is made of 35,000 to 40,000 plastic water bottles, which have been repurposed for the artwork. Activist Bella Shah about the eye-popping installation said, “The idea was to put forth a two-pronged message mixing the earthy with the aesthetic. We all talk about going green and giving back to the Earth but do not quite know how to do so. The festival of lights is a timely opportunity for this inspiring initiative.” Shah also pointed to the large number of people coming into the garden to see the lantern.