Diwali, the festival of lights celebrating the victory of good over evil is here. While festivities have been comparatively muted over the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, the nation is coming together to celebrate the festival with renewed vigour and joy. However, the environment and its preservation is definitely on everyone’s minds, proved also by the fact that many states have banned the use of anything but green crackers. Working in the same direction, artisans from across the nation have also come up with unique, eco-friendly and truly entrepreneurial ways of celebrating Diwali. Here’s what you should know.
Sustainable Cow Dung Diyas From Lucknow To Be A Highlight At UP’s Deepotsav
The city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh plans to light more than 12 lakh diyas to not only celebrate the festival of lights, but also to break a Guinness World Record. To achieve this monumental attempt, artisans from Lucknow’s Kanha and Chinhat areas are preparing eco-friendly cow dung diyas to make the world record attempt and the celebrations absolutely sustainable. A Hindustan Times special report describes how the artisans not only include women, but also entire families across generations who are helping make Diwali 2022 more special this year!
Chandigarh Gaushala Distributes Cow Dung Diyas Free Of Cost
A gaushala in Chandigarh has created thousands of cow dung diyas for free-of-cost distribution in the city and beyond to make Diwali celebrations truly sustainable and accessible for all. “These diyas will be distributed free of cost among people on Dhanteras,” Vinod Kumar, the vice president of the gaushala told ANI. “We mixed havan samagri with cow dung to create these diyas,” he added.
Women Artisans Of Prayagraj Create Eco-Friendly Idols
Rural women artisans from UP’s Prayagraj are doing their bit to protect the environment by creating cow dung idols of Lord Ganesh, goddess Lakshmi and other deities worshipped during Diwali. As part of the initiative, started by the Bioved Research Institute of Agriculture and Technology, the idols will not only be distributed in UP, but also to New Delhi and Kolkata. The women are also making other Diwali essentials using the same eco-friendly methods, including diyas, candle stands, lanterns and even show pieces.
Craftswomen From Rajasthan Pave The Way With Seed Crackers
Rural women artisans belonging to self-help groups from Rajasthan’s Sanganer, Chhindwara and other areas are continuing with their tradition of producing seed crackers or Beej Patakhas which look like firecrackers, but are packed with plantable seeds. Supported by the e-commerce platform called 21Fools, which focuses entirely on sustainable products for the conscious citizenry of India, these women are now creating seed crackers that look like anar, chakris, sutli bombs and even phuljharis.
Agra Jail Inmates Create 1 Lakh Cow Dung Diyas
Around 12 inmates from the district jail of Agra worked around the clock to create one lakh eco-friendly cow dung diyas to celebrate Diwali with. Jail authorities reveal that there are 80-85 cows within the jail premises’ gaushala, so creating cow dung diyas was the natural next step in the right direction. Each of the inmates got the daily wage of ₹25 to make the diyas, and the diyas are being sold at 40 paise across the city.
*Image used for representative purpose only.