As the festive season of Deepavali draws near, exchanging gifts becomes a cherished tradition that symbolizes joy, love, and prosperity. In Visakhapatnam, innovative and sustainable gifting has taken the spotlight, offering a meaningful way to celebrate the festival while supporting local artisans and promoting eco-friendly practices. A variety of thoughtfully curated hampers featuring artisanal products are redefining how people commemorate this occasion.
Dhanak Naturals, a brand committed to sustainable living, leads the charge with its eco-friendly Deepavali gift hampers. Their products are meticulously crafted using natural ingredients, ensuring they are gentle on both the skin and the environment. What’s more, these items are free from harmful chemicals, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. Dhanak Naturals goes a step further by utilizing earthy, biodegradable packaging, wrapped in an upcycled cloth bag. The hamper offers a delightful assortment, including a coconut shell key chain, soaps, coconut body butter, lip balms with natural fragrances like passionfruit, grapefruit, and lavender, a soy wax candle in a coconut shell, neem wood soap, and a bamboo toothbrush. Asawari Mathur, the founder of Dhanak Naturals, emphasizes that these sustainable hampers reflect a broader awareness about the impact of traditional gifting methods. By opting for these hampers, individuals actively choose to reduce their ecological footprint, moving away from single-use plastics and excessive packaging while supporting customized gifting solutions.
Another heartwarming initiative comes from Prajwal Vani, a local NGO based in Visakhapatnam. This organization involves 35 differently-abled children in the festive preparations, adding a unique touch to the celebrations. These children, who have intellectual disabilities, are painting and decorating deepams, which are integral to the Deepavali hampers. This initiative is part of the Visakha Kushi Project, which has been nurturing creativity and skill development among these children for the past few years. KVL Suchitra, the founder of Prajwal Vani Welfare Society, explains that this endeavor not only produces beautiful hand-painted diyas but also empowers the children by enhancing their creativity and motor skills. The proceeds from selling these special hampers are handed over to the children’s parents on Dhanteras, further promoting self-reliance and instilling a sense of accomplishment.
. Suchitra touches on the emotional value carried by these hampers, adding that the love and effort put in by the children are what make them truly special. Prajwal Vani’s products can be found at CMR Central, Maddilapalem, and Akkayyapalem, and there’s a plan for a stall on Beach Road, opposite Kali Temple, as the festival approaches.
Sankalp Art Village (SAV) also champions the cause of sustainability by curating Deepavali hampers that embody the principles of conscious consumption. Their offerings include naturally-dyed handspun handkerchiefs, Etikoppaka products, and millet and dry fruit laddus, all made in-house at SAV’s center in Pedagadi near Pendurthi. The genesis of these hampers was sparked by a corporate client seeking sustainable gifting options. This collaboration resulted in a hamper that includes natural-dyed cotton handkerchiefs, deepams, and protein laddu packs. Jameelya Akula, the creative design head of SAV, shares that they have prepared three types of hampers for the season, each featuring tealight candle holders and complementary candles.
For those drawn to tradition, Gulab Tribe presents an exquisite selection of handcrafted items, adding aesthetic charm to Deepavali hampers. This year, they have introduced Cherial coasters, inspired by the Cherial scrolls of Telangana, which bear a rich storytelling heritage. Their hampers also include beautifully crafted Etikoppaka figures from Andhra Pradesh, demonstrating age-old techniques with natural dyes. Moreover, Gulab Tribe’s use of a coconut shell candleholder offers a rustic and eco-friendly twist to conventional decor items, making their hampers a celebration of both tradition and sustainability.
Indulgence is not forgotten during this festive season, thanks to Dark Love’s array of artisanal sweets. Their creative twist on traditional sweets, such as the motichoor laddu reimagined with creamy cheesecake at its core, adds an exciting fusion element to the festival. With offerings including almond rocks, pistachio cranberry truffles, brownie bites, and Thai-flavored assorted nuts, their hampers are a delectable delight wrapped in elegant, plastic-free packaging.
This innovative approach to Deepavali gifting in Visakhapatnam ensures that joy is multiplied not only in the receiving but also in knowing that each gift makes a positive impact on local communities and the environment.
