A couple from Madurai has been distributing yellow bags (Manja Pai)in occasions like marriage.
MADURAI: In a noble cause to promote eco-friendly bags, a couple from Madurai has been distributing yellow bags (Manja Pai) in occasions like marriage.
The bags not only revive the lost 'Manja Pai' culture of Tamils, but also spreads the message to avoid plastic and plant trees.
Started by Krishnan Subramanian and his wife Gowri Gopinath on February 2014, the bags are used in a good many occasions likes marriage, birthday parties and marathons. Also, they are sold in various shops.
Krishnan Subramanian, the founder of the initiative said, "We chose yellow bag so that we can promote the use of cloth bags and revitalise the long-lost Tamil culture." Last week, the couple distributed 3,500 yellow bags at a marriage function.
"We used the bags to give pooja items for our guests. Everyone were inspired by the message, which was written on the bag," bag user T Anand said.
In Tamil tradition, yellow cloth bags are specially used by grandmothers to carry grocery items. However, over the years, its significance has changed.
The initiative's co-founder, Gowri Gopinath said, "Grandmothers still use cloth bag, called as 'Manja Pai' for grocery shopping. They say they have never seen plastic bags."
In the past one and half years, the couple has sold around 45,000 cloth bags across the city and also to cities like Bangalore and Mumbai.
Each bag, priced at Rupees seven can hold one kilogram of weight. They are stitched by a few homemakers in Madurai.
The concept of yellow bag is 'reduce, reuse and recycle'.
The bags not only revive the lost 'Manja Pai' culture of Tamils, but also spreads the message to avoid plastic and plant trees.
Started by Krishnan Subramanian and his wife Gowri Gopinath on February 2014, the bags are used in a good many occasions likes marriage, birthday parties and marathons. Also, they are sold in various shops.
Krishnan Subramanian, the founder of the initiative said, "We chose yellow bag so that we can promote the use of cloth bags and revitalise the long-lost Tamil culture." Last week, the couple distributed 3,500 yellow bags at a marriage function.
"We used the bags to give pooja items for our guests. Everyone were inspired by the message, which was written on the bag," bag user T Anand said.
In Tamil tradition, yellow cloth bags are specially used by grandmothers to carry grocery items. However, over the years, its significance has changed.
The initiative's co-founder, Gowri Gopinath said, "Grandmothers still use cloth bag, called as 'Manja Pai' for grocery shopping. They say they have never seen plastic bags."
In the past one and half years, the couple has sold around 45,000 cloth bags across the city and also to cities like Bangalore and Mumbai.
Each bag, priced at Rupees seven can hold one kilogram of weight. They are stitched by a few homemakers in Madurai.
The concept of yellow bag is 'reduce, reuse and recycle'.
