Masks, terracotta items among Bhubaneswar residents’ Diwali gift picks

BHUBANESWAR: The novel coronavirus has changed the way people celebrate festivals. It has also changed the way people buy and present gifts. With life and livelihood caught in seemingly unending home isolation, gifting options, too, have undergone significant changes. With more and more focus on sustainability, people are now preferring gifting plants, designer diyas, terracotta home décor items, lamps, handmade masks, face shields and safety gear this Diwali.
“Ahead of Diwali, we are getting orders for assorted packs of masks as gift items as people feel they are not only works of art but also affordable and provide much-needed safety during the pandemic,” said Aparna Das, a local manufacturer. Masks are available in an array of fabrics ranging from cotton to handloom to pure silk, tussar as well as glitter fabric to match every occasion.
The trend of green gifts not only reflects the concern for the environment but also the intention to help revive the livelihood of local artisans and craftsmen. Many celebrities have also urged the public to be vocal about local products and support their livelihood.
“We know how this pandemic has brought misery to many artisans who depend on local markets during festivals. This year we all should pledge to help the locals by purchasing their products,” said actor Sabysachi Mishra, who himself has promised a local artisan that he would buy all the earthen lamps that her family will produce this Diwali.
Mruttika – the annual terracotta exhibition currently under way here is offering a variety of gifting options. “I chose designer earthen lamps and terracotta items as gifts for my friends and loved ones this Diwali. It will help brighten our lives amid the pandemic,” said Harshita Rath, a corporate employee.
Trilochan Kumbhar, a terracotta artisan from Koraput who has up a stall at Mruttika, said, “Things were quite gloomy for the last few months as we could not sell our products. But the response of visitors is quite good here.”
Bakul Foundation has renewed its old campaign of gifting plants. “We give gifts to show that we care for the other person, and there cannot be a better way to show that than by gifting a plant,” said Sujit Mahapatra, founder of Bakul Foundation. Besides, plants handmade chocolates are also quite popular as gifts this Diwali.
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