Varanasi: Women from the Maheshwari Self-Help Group in Murdaha village of Harhua block are turning the festive demand for Navratri pooja essentials into an opportunity for livelihood generation by preparing puja combo packs for devotees.
The packs contain essential items for worship, including a chunari for Goddess Durga, roli, chandan, sindoor, akshat, incense sticks, camphor, kalawa and havan materials. By bringing these items together in a single package, the women are offering convenience to customers while creating an additional source of income for their families.
Group members Niharika Devi and Seema Devi work alongside other women to assemble and package the products. The initiative has enabled them to use their skills to meet seasonal demand and explore opportunities beyond household responsibilities.
The products are reaching consumers through Prerna Marts, which provide a marketplace for goods made by rural women entrepreneurs. According to Pawan Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner (Self-Employment), Varanasi has 65 Prerna Marts, including outlets across its eight development blocks and one at the district headquarters. These marts are operated by women associated with self-help groups.
Block Mission Manager Pooja Tiwari said the initiative connects women not only with production but also with sales and marketing, helping them develop business skills, confidence and an entrepreneurial identity.
Niharika Devi said the availability of their Navratri products through Prerna Marts was helping increase household income. Seema Devi added that joining the self-help group had opened up opportunities beyond domestic work and encouraged women to pursue new activities.
Officials said festival-specific products offer rural women a practical way to generate income while strengthening collective enterprise. For the women of Murdaha, each puja combo pack represents more than a collection of ritual essentials—it is a step towards greater economic independence and self-reliance.
