From extending support for traditional artisans and weavers to helping the handicapped, this Diwali organizations and social enterprises are hopefully making festive hampers handmade.
creative dignity
The Karuna doll project, launched last year during the pandemic by Creative Dignity, a volunteer movement, became a symbol of hope for the traditional Indian craft.
Now, Gudiya is again spreading the cheer, this time with a Diwali kit. Around 15 hampers featuring the dolls have been designed by the team. “Gifting a part of our Indian craft heritage is something we wanted to encourage during the festive season. Each Karuna doll represents a region’s craft history. Says Mazhar Ramzanali, Project Lead of Karuna Dolls. For example, Veeranavali and Jugni – Karuna Gudiya from Punjab, wear traditional Phulkari work clothes. From Andhra Pradesh, there are Ani and Sita, both symbols of strong women depicting the ancient craft of Tholu Bommalata or leather puppetry.
Mazhar says the doll is a bridge between rural India and metropolitan India, “Our aim is to teach the younger generation about the dignity of handmade products and the traditional crafts of India.” The Diwali kit includes ceramic stoneware cups, plantable and growable crackers, ghee diyas and copper bottles.
Orders can be placed through the Instagram handle CreativeDignity.
Crafts Council of Andhra Pradesh
The compact Diwali kit from the Crafts Council of Andhra Pradesh (CCAP) depicts the rich ancestral craft history of Andhra Pradesh. A Kalamkari table runner, Narasapur lace coasters, Naphthalene ball holders from Etikoppaka, Nimmalkunta leather earrings, Pulgurta napkins, Vedaru (bamboo) baskets, Eco-friendly diyas And coconut shell cups are tucked away in this thoughtfully designed hamper. “All the items are sourced from Andhra Pradesh. The aim is to encourage people to support the traditional crafts of the region,” says CCAP secretary Ammaji Rayudu, adding, “The festival of Diwali is the best time to give our patronage to the craft industry, which is still in effect. Of epidemic. Before the season, discussions took place and drawings were exchanged between the artisans and the Crafts Council team to help them transform the design to suit contemporary home decor.
Orders can be placed through the Instagram handle craftcouncil_ap.
Prajwal Vani Welfare Society
The Diwali discussion at PVWS, the Prajwal Vani Welfare Society, which supports differently-abled individuals, begins a few weeks before the festival. At its center in Akkayyapalem, a group is busy painting rows of earthen lamps and making candles of different colours. These will be put up for sale at the stalls of CMR Central Mall over the weekend. “This year more than 120 students are making 5,000 diyas under our Visakha Khushi Deep project. People can also place their order directly at our center,” says KVL Suchitra Rao, founder of the society. The project to train the handicapped in making diyas started about eight years ago. “When we get diyas from a potter’s colony, the whole experience of decorating the diyas with our own designs and colors and interacting with people exposes them to market functions and also teaches them how to handle money,” he adds. says. The proceeds from the sale are distributed among the families of the children. Suchitra says, “It may not be a huge contribution, but seeing the kids buy their lamps makes me swell with pride.”
Call on 9347973327 to place order.
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With only a week to go for Diwali, Sagarika doesn’t have a minute to spare. Working carefully, she quickly pats the shimmering colors on the earthen lamps. Around the hall of the NGO Sampoorna’s unit at the Zilla Parishad junction, women with disabilities like Sagarika are busy finalizing the diyas before heading to their villages for the festivities. Ch. Satya, Founder-President of Sampoorna, oversees operations from her wheelchair while taking care of customers.
Floating candles and earthen diyas are given a festive look by the women. The diyas are embellished with glittering stones and coated with chalk paint before being filled with molten wax. Back in the kitchen, women pack traditional sweets and snacks for the festive season. Since they launched in 2001, says Satya, Diwali has never been dull. till 2020. “Last year was the only time we did nothing because of the pandemic. Thankfully orders have gone up this year,” says Satya.
The team has made more than 10,000 diyas this year. From making paper bags to cost-effective biodegradable sanitary napkins, women are trained in various skills. “The preparation for Diwali starts weeks in advance. This year, we got a good number of orders for traditional sweets like arezlu, belum gavalu and snacks like chegodilu And murukulu”, says the truth.
Call 9959151666 to customize and place an order.
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