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Prayagraj Women Craft Sustainable Diwali Gifts from Ganga Water and Cow Dung
4 Oct
Summary
- 5,000 women in Prayagraj make Diwali products using Ganga water and cow dung
- Eco-friendly idols, lamps, and diyas in high demand in UP markets
- Women become self-reliant and partners in development through Diwali sales
As of October 4th, 2025, around 5,000 women associated with over 250 self-help groups in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, have been making Diwali products using Ganga water and cow dung. These women are crafting eco-friendly idols of Lord Ganesh, Kuber, and Goddess Laxmi, as well as designer lamps and earthen diyas.
The products are in great demand across Uttar Pradesh markets, helping the rural-based women become self-reliant and partners in development. Pratibha Srivastava, Project Officer for the District Urban Development Agency (DUDA) in Prayagraj, explains that the women are using vegetable and plant leaves instead of chemical dyes, making their creations both sacred and environmentally friendly.
Vartika Dwivedi, in charge of the Vartika Self-Help Group, states that her cluster of 26 groups comprising 260 women is producing over 200,000 diyas for the upcoming Diwali festival. The women are also making energy sticks from a mixture of cow dung and havan materials, which are in high demand during Navratri.
Additionally, the women are preparing puja laddus from ragi, millet, and sorghum, which will be sold in the Diwali market. This year's Diwali celebrations are providing a crucial income boost for these rural-based women, empowering them to become self-reliant and contribute to the local economy.
