Basic HTML Version

|  | Table of Contents |  | View Full Version

Page 8 - The Indian EYE 102425
P. 8

    EYE ON INDIA                                                        OCTOBER 24, 2025  |      The Indian Eye                     8

                                                    Buy Swadeshi:

                This Diwali, India Lights Up with

                         the Spirit of ‘Vocal for Local’

              From Ayodhya to Aligarh, the message is clear — this year’s festival of lights is about Indian-
                                   made goods, clay diyas, and the pride of supporting local hands.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            ration with the Police Wives Welfare
                                                                                                                  Association, showcased self-help
            Kolkata / Ayodhya / Jammu
                                                                                                                  groups and artisans selling handmade
                  s  the  glow  of  Diwali  spreads                                                               textiles, pottery, and festive decora-
                  across India, a common refrain                                                                  tions.
            Aechoes from potters’ colonies,                                                                           In Aligarh, known for its bustling
            temple towns, and bustling bazaars —                                                                  firecracker  markets,  shopkeepers
            “Buy Swadeshi.” This year, the festival                                                               too are catching on to the local-first
            of lights has turned into a nationwide                                                                sentiment. Sellers have introduced
            celebration of local craftsmanship and                                                                uniquely  Indian-themed  products,
            self-reliance, aligning with Prime Min-                                                               such as crackers named after Oper-
            ister Narendra Modi’s call for a “Vocal                                                               ation Sindoor — a tribute to India’s
            for Local” Diwali.                                                                                    recent counter-terror operation —
                From the diyas of Bengal to the                                                                   and Rinku Singh, the Indian crick-
            clay lamps of Ayodhya and the self-                                                                   eter whose explosive IPL sixes have
            help groups in Jammu, the spirit of                                                                   become part of cricketing folklore.
            Swadeshi is illuminating homes and                                                                        “These new Indian-themed fire-
            livelihoods alike.                                                                                    crackers are a hit,” said shopkeeper
                At Ultadanga Dakshindari in                                                                       Devendra Gupta. “People are excit-
            North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, the                                                                   ed to buy crackers that celebrate our
            soft glow of thousands of earthen        A woman buying idols of Hindu deities Lakshmi and Ganesh ahead of Diwali,    heroes. It adds an Indian identity to
            lamps reflects both tradition and eco-                   in Jabalpur on Thursday (ANI)                the festival.”
            nomic survival. For potters like Madan                                                                    The shift toward homegrown
            Prajapati, this is the season that de-  Diwalis since Lord Ram’s return to   With  the  Ram  Temple  finally   branding reflects not only patriotism
            cides the year. His family and team   his city, the message of Swadeshi has   standing tall after 500 years, Ayod-  but also changing consumer tastes —
            of workers have crafted nearly 50,000   taken on a spiritual dimension. Saints   hya’s Diwali carries deep emotional   where pride in national icons blends
            clay diyas, braving erratic monsoon   and  seers  have  joined  hands  to  en-  weight this year. The lamps being lit   with the festive spirit.
            rains  that  threatened  to  wash  away   courage people to adopt locally made   across the city are not just for cele-
            their months of labour.           goods — especially earthen lamps   bration  but  also  as  an  offering  to   A FESTIVAL THAT
                “We start four to five months be-                                                                      SHINES FROM WITHIN
            fore Diwali because it takes days to   and handmade decorations.    self-reliance — symbolising the vic-   his  Diwali,  from  the  clay-
                                                  Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das
                                                                                tory of Indian craftsmanship over
            make a single diya — one day to shape,   Ji  Maharaj  described  how  devotees   mass-produced imports.    streaked  hands  of  Bengal’s
            one to dry, another to paint, and the   began the festival rituals with tradi-  Far from the banks of the Saryu,  Tpotters to the chants along the
            last to fire it,” Prajapati explained.  tional lamps and prayers.   in Jammu, the call to buy Swadeshi  Saryu, the idea of “Swadeshi Diwa-
                “This year, the rain made drying
                                                  “We placed lamps for Lord Ram,
            very hard, but we managed. I only   the Saryu River, Hanuman Ji, Mata   has been institutionalised.   li” is more than just a slogan — it’s a
                                                                                    At the J-K Police’s Diwali Mela,  movement. The festival, once defined
            ask that people buy Indian-made clay   Sita, and the entire Ram Darbar. This   Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha  by imported lights and mass-pro-
            lamps. Like our government says, be   marks the beginning of lamp-laying   urged citizens to make this Diwali a  duced gifts, is steadily returning to its
            vocal for local — so that families like   along the Saryu’s banks, heralding a   festival of empowerment by buying  roots: local art, handmade lamps, and
            ours can keep the tradition alive.”  historic Diwali in Ayodhya,” he said.  local products.           community-driven celebration.
                The sight of rows of diyas drying
                                                                                                                      As millions prepare to light their
                                                  Meanwhile, Saint Diwakaracha-
                                                                                    “Let us boost our local economy,
            under the autumn sun has become a   rya Ji Maharaj urged people to turn   empower entrepreneurs, increase  diyas  on  October  20,  the  flickering
            symbol of resilience. Shoppers at the   the festival into an act of service to   employment, and strengthen Jammu  flames will represent more than the
            market echo his appeal, with many   the nation.                     and Kashmir’s economy,” Sinha said  victory of light over darkness. They
            consciously choosing earthen lamps    “I request everyone to adopt   at the inauguration of the event. “On  will also  symbolise India’s  growing
            over imported or plastic alternatives.
                                              Swadeshi this Diwali. Use clay lamps   Diwali,  ‘Vocal  for  Local’  should  be  confidence in its own artisans, its own
                                              made locally and light them at home.   our mission. Every family should buy  markets, and its own people.
             SAINTS LEAD SWADESHI CALL        This will bring prosperity to your   handicrafts, handloom, and tradition-  In every corner of the country,
               n  Ayodhya, where preparations  family and support the families who   al products. This will instil patriotism  Diwali 2025 is  being celebrated  not
               are in full swing for what prom-  keep the festival alive,” he told a   and support small businesses.”  just as a festival of lights — but as a
            Iises to be one of the grandest  news agency.                           The mela, organised in collabo-  festival of Swadeshi pride.

                                                                   www.TheIndianEYE.com

| 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 |