ECO VESAK: Vesak Lantern Competition at SIBA Campus

The ECO VESAK Vesak Lantern Competition at SIBA Campus showcased environmentally responsible creativity and community engagement. Organized by SIBA Campus in collaboration with SIBA ZeroPlastic, the project engaged Dhamma school children in designing and building Vesak Kudu lanterns using natural, nonplastic materials. All lanterns were displayed on Vesak Day, creating a visible demonstration of sustainable celebration.

Project Overview

The competition invited young participants to reimagine traditional Vesak decorations through an ecofriendly lens. In guided workshops, children learned practical skills for crafting lanterns from locally available natural materials and explored ways to reduce plastic use during Vesak. The activity aligned with the spirit of Vesak while promoting environmental stewardship and hands on learning.

Educational and Community Impact

The initiative advanced three core outcomes: raising awareness about plastic reduction, strengthening creative skills, and fostering community participation. By involving Dhamma school children, the project provided experiential learning that linked cultural practice with environmental responsibility. The public display on Vesak Day amplified the message to the wider campus community and visitors, reinforcing sustainable practices for seasonal celebrations.

Recognition and Celebration

Certificates and prizes were presented to the top 20 entries to acknowledge excellence and encourage continued engagement. Beyond formal recognition, every lantern contributed to a collective display that celebrated creativity and the possibility of low impact festivities.

Why This Matters

Seasonal events often generate large amounts of single use items. ECO VESAK demonstrated a practical alternative by showing that beautiful, meaningful Vesak decorations can be produced without plastic. The project created a replicable model for institutions and communities seeking to reduce environmental harm while preserving cultural expression.

Next Steps and Invitation

SIBA Campus and SIBA ZeroPlastic invite other campuses, schools, and community groups to adopt similar approaches for religious and cultural events. Sharing resources, workshop plans, and participant stories can help scale the practice and inspire broader adoption of sustainable celebration methods.

For more information or to collaborate on future initiatives, please contact SIBA Campus or SIBA ZeroPlastic. #EcoVesak #ZeroPlastic #SIBACampus #SustainableVesak