Didis of Mandla SHG making Vedic Rakhis from cow dung and natural colours: Demand from Bhopal, Delhi to Maharashtra
Mandla/Bhopal: On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, the women of the self-help group in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh are presenting a unique example of tradition and indigenous thinking. The women of the 'Swadeshi Self-Help Group' of Nainpur development block are preparing attractive Vedic Rakhis using cow dung, clay and natural colours.
In the era of plastic Rakhis, the demand for these Vedic Rakhis, which give the message of purity and environmental protection, has now gone beyond Mandla and reached Bhopal, Delhi and Maharashtra.
Vedic Rakhis are prepared by casting them in a mould
According to the District Project Manager of the State Rural Livelihood Mission, these natural rakhis are being created keeping in mind the sanctity of Rakshabandhan. To make them, pure cow dung is first dried and powdered. This powder is then mixed with clay and premix and cast into molds. Once removed from the molds and dried, they are adorned with beads and other decorative materials to give them a beautiful and attractive appearance.
Big market is being provided by administration and social media
The district administration is also providing full support in the sale and marketing of these Vedic Rakhis. In addition to local markets, these Rakhis are also being sold at the Bhopal Haat held in Bhopal. District administration officials and employees are enthusiastically purchasing these Rakhis themselves. Furthermore, Rakhis are being sold in various states across the country through online orders taken through social media.