It’s India’s season of joy, so why should the less privileged be left behind? Village Square curates five cottage-industry initiatives from where you can buy products this Deepavali to give business to those from marginalised backgrounds.
India’s vibrant cottage industry has a lot to offer and Diwali is the perfect opportunity for urban dwellers to explore and support it. This year you can add more joy to your festivities by choosing Deepavali products made by rural artisans and people with disabilities. From hand-crafted diyas to delectable snacks, each of these items tells a story of its own. Here are five organisations selling various goodies perfect for your festive needs this season, while working to empower communities.
Jhappi is a platform that works to bring handcrafted products from rural artisans to a broader audience. The organisation works with over 60 NGOs to produce a wide range of items ranging from personal wear, toys and stationery to snacks and sweets. As a part of its festive collection, the brand offers candles made by rural artisans from West Bengal and intellectually challenged adults from Maharashtra, terracotta diyas made by tribal women from Tamil Nadu, copper diyas crafted by artisans from Maharashtra and a lot more.
Working to empower women through their culinary prowess, Farmdidi is a brand that brings flavours from rural India to urban dwellers and benefits over 1,500 rural women connected with them. These food entrepreneurs are trained to upscale their business and enhance their skills. The brand, which also made an appearance on the popular show Shark Tank India, specialises in producing a variety of pickles and chutneys. It also offers a Diwali collection of gift hampers consisting of delicacies like laddoos, murabba, cookies as well as cards, diyas and handmade tote bags.
Venu-Madhuri Trust is an NGO that promotes integrated, sustainable rural reconstruction. Started 21 years ago to promote self-sufficiency in Ramanvadi, a small village in Maharashtra, today Venu-Madhuri empowers communities in five villages. From soaps, oils and incense sticks to edible items like ghee and honey, they have a wide range of organic products to offer. This festive season, they’re offering a range of Diwali gift hampers comprising some of their much-loved products. By purchasing from them, you can extend support to Maharashtra’s vibrant cottage industry.
Hamari Asha is a livelihood and upliftment initiative that empowers rural women by helping them become financially independent. The foundation has positively impacted the lives of over 1,500 women from the villages around Gurugram by providing them with the opportunity to become self-reliant by selling a range of handcrafted products. Hamari Asha offers handmade table linen, table accessories, utility pouches, bags and more. Its Diwali collection comprises stunning soy wax candles in the shapes of horses, elephants and turtles. A variety of colourful lamps, lanterns, terracotta diyas and thoughtfully created gift hampers can also be found in this collection.
Giftabled is a platform that runs with the mission of fostering inclusivity by providing livelihoods to people with disabilities. It offers services like accessibility audits and training workshops to promote inclusivity in the corporate sector. Giftabled also offers a vast gifting range produced by differently-abled artisans. Its festive collection includes several Diwali items like candle sets and eco-friendly crackers, as well as gift hampers made by NGOs and people with disabilities. The products display exquisite designs and radiant colours that are sure to enhance festive cheer.
The lead image on top shows diyas (earthen lamps) on the festive occasion of Diwali. (Photo from Shutterstock)
