This Raksha Bandhan, what if your rakhi did more than just decorate your brother’s wrist? The Gram Art Project, led by artist-activist Shweta Bhattad, is producing "seed rakhis" - sustainable, biodegradable threads that grow into kitchen garden plants like basil, spinach, and pumpkin. Each rakhi is handwoven using desi cotton, naturally dyed with turmeric, indigo, or marigold, and contains seeds hidden in the tassels.

Over 300 rural women from 14 villages across Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are involved in the process - from growing cotton and spinning yarn to crafting and stitching the rakhis. These women, once confined to household roles, now make critical decisions, gain financial independence, and revive India’s native cotton culture.

Apart from being symbolic of sibling love, these eco-friendly rakhis are part of a larger fight against environmental damage caused by Bt cotton and chemical dyes. Even the paper tags are embedded with seeds, making it a zero-waste gift.

So this Raksha Bandhan, tie a rakhi that keeps giving - to your sibling, the Earth, and the hands that made it.