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Hello, I'm Myra Anubi and this is People Fixing the World from the BBC World Service,
where we focus on the individuals making our world a better place.
Now, People Fixing the World will be back soon,
but until then, we are bringing you a special episode.
Flower Power explores solutions to an environmental problem, the waste from temple flowers in India.
For half a mile along the road that leads up to the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai,
there are vendors selling a variety of flowers all along the way.
There are orange and yellow marigolds, red roses, white chrysanthemums and tube roses.
They're in garlands, in loose heaps,
as well as arranged in small baskets with other offerings like dried coconuts.
And all of these are sacraments that have to be offered to Lord Ganesh,
the deity who resides in this temple.
But here's the problem.
Because they're sacraments, they can't be discarded in the trash after they're blessed.
Tradition says they must be immersed in water.
I'm Chhavi Sachdev, and I live here in Mumbai.
In many countries in the Global South,
Flowers are an integral part of worship rituals and ceremonies.
On holy days in India, Hindus, Jains, Muslims and Buddhists offer flowers at a mandir or dargah.