A groundbreaking design project called Bindu is challenging how we interact with water in our daily lives through three innovative ritual objects that blend ancient wisdom with contemporary sustainability practices. Created by designer Akhil Krishnan, the project draws its name from the Sanskrit word meaning "droplet" or "point," which in ancient cosmology represents the primordial seed and wellspring from which all creation unfolds.
The Bindu project consists of three distinctive objects - Pāvita, Sanchaya, and Kalasha - each designed to transform routine water usage into mindful, reverent practices. These artifacts combine what Krishnan calls "barefoot design thinking" with Indigenous wisdom, directly challenging Western anthropocentric viewpoints while weaving cultural memory and history into contemporary design solutions.
Pāvita reimagines the humble act of dishwashing by questioning our dependence on water, synthetic cleaning agents, and plastic tools. Inspired by traditional practices from water-scarce regions of India, particularly Rajasthan, this innovative cleaning system repurposes used wine corks and transforms them into a dry-cleaning medium. By replacing water with cork granules, Pāvita offers both an ecological intervention and a poetic gesture toward mindful domesticity, drawing on traditions that utilized natural, locally sourced materials for cleaning.
The second object, Kalasha, serves as a greywater vessel and wash bowl inspired by ancestral Indian water vessels like the Lota and Chilamchi. Designed specifically for modern kitchens, Kalasha features an integrated terracotta and charcoal filter system that allows users to reclaim and reuse water for non-potable tasks. This vessel transforms everyday actions into rituals, encouraging measured use, ecological care, and what Krishnan describes as "quiet frugality."
Sanchaya, the third component, transforms cooking into a ritual of conservation through its steam-capture technology. This innovative tool uses a specially designed lid that channels evaporated droplets into a ceramic reservoir, making the invisible water cycle visible through transparent glass components. Inspired by ancestral distillation practices, Sanchaya allows the collected water to be returned to the dish or used elsewhere, effectively turning habitual cooking into intentional conservation.
Each object in the Bindu collection serves as what Krishnan calls "poetic interventions" that urge users to slow down and approach water with reverence and intention. By engaging multiple senses, these designs disrupt routine habits and invite users to develop a deeper, more sustainable relationship with water - one shaped by recognition, ritual, and respect rather than treating water as a mere utility.
The project represents more than just functional design; it embodies a philosophical shift toward viewing water as a living entity deserving of reverence. Kalasha, for instance, not only makes water consumption visible but also enables a second use of this precious resource, serving as a constant reminder that water represents both life and death in the cosmic cycle.
Krishnan's work arrives at a crucial time when water scarcity affects billions globally, offering tangible solutions that blend ecological sensitivity with poetic design. The Bindu project demonstrates how even the simplest design interventions can inspire behavioral change and nurture deeper connections to the natural world, suggesting that the path to sustainability lies not just in technology but in transforming our fundamental relationship with natural resources through ritual and reverence.
