How to store puja samagri so it lasts

Very little puja samagri actually goes bad. What it does is lose its fragrance, and then its colour, and by the time you notice, the packet has been open for a year. Storage is the whole of the problem.

Agarbatti and dhoop

Fragrance leaves through paper. Keep them in a closed tin or a zip bag rather than the box they came in, away from sunlight, and buy smaller quantities more often rather than a year at a time.

Kapoor

Camphor sublimates — it turns from solid to vapour without melting, which is why a tablet left in an open dish simply disappears. An airtight container is not optional here.

Roli, haldi and kumkum

These take on moisture and cake. A dry spoon every time, and a lid that actually closes, is the whole method.

Moli and cloth

Keep them off the floor and out of the light. Red thread fades faster than people expect.