Sustainable Deepavali gifts in Visakhapatnam: Eco-friendly hampers and local crafts

Deepavali gifting has traditionally revolved around boxes of sweets, dry fruits and decorative accessories. In recent years, however, there has been a discernible shift towards gifts that are useful, locally-made and thoughtfully packaged.In Visakhapatnam, several homegrown enterprises are exploring this space with collections that bring together natural produce, traditional crafts, wellness products and regional specialities. Bamboo baskets, jute boxes, ceramic jars, coconut-shell containers and handmade keepsakes are finding their way into festive hampers, reflecting a greater interest in materials and products that have a story behind them. The choices also offer an opportunity to support small businesses, traditional artisans and local producers while making festive exchanges more meaningful.Sankalpa Art VillageAt Pedagadi, Sankalpa Art Village, a sustainable enterprise working with crafts, handlooms and natural food products, brings together indigenous craftsmanship and natural farming produce in its Deepavali gift boxes. The idea is to introduce recipients to traditional crafts while making room for healthier food choices and thoughtful packaging. A sustainable Diwali hamper by Sankalpa Art Village with protein laddu, red rice and wooden toy in a bamboo basket. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Among its offerings are wild honey, homemade pickles prepared with organic produce and collectible tealight holders made from natural lac-turned wood and shaped like birds. The hampers also feature Navara red rice, an ancient rice variety valued for its nutritional properties and low glycaemic index, alongside protein ladoos made with nuts, jaggery and ghee. A wooden lighthouse toy, which brings in the symbolism of light, adds a handcrafted element to the collection. The products are packed in bamboo fruit baskets.“We curated wellness and craft hampers for the Indian Navy this year. The idea was to highlight health along with light this festive season, while introducing traditional crafts into people’s homes,” says Jameelya Akula of Sankalpa Art Village. Deepavali hamper by Sankalpa Art Village in Visakhapatnam. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The collection also includes coconut-shell nut boxes with Etikoppaka bird handles, combining natural materials with the region’s distinctive craft vocabulary. Those keen to explore the collection can currently find Sankalpa Art Village’s products at the Mana Karigari stalls in Inorbit Mall.To order, reach out to Instagram: @sankalpaartvillage.Yellow BasketFor Pranitha Mattapalli of Yellow Basket, sustainable gifting also calls for attention to presentation. Her curated Deepavali collection, with hampers starting at ₹500, brings together useful products, wellness essentials, regional delicacies and attractive packaging. A Diwali hamper by Yellow Basket containing bamboo tray with brass filter coffee set, GCC filter coffee and glass jars with cookies. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The premium selections include German silver trays, zodiac-sign glasses, tea kettles and glass jars of blue pea tea. Another hamper features a vegan leather ikat basket filled with Phool products, chocolates and a miniature perfume. There are also cotton-and-gold woven baskets, wellness kits, glass crinkle jars filled with cookies and soy-wax candles. “The focus of the hampers is as much on keeping them sustainable as on the aesthetics. For instance, nuts can be packaged in an organza potli to give the hamper a festive look and presented in a handmade jute box with an earthen deepam,” says Pranitha. Coffee enthusiasts can opt for a hamper featuring a bamboo tray, a brass filter coffee set, GCC filter coffee and glass jars of cookies. Etikoppaka wooden birds add a handcrafted touch to some of the selections. Yellow Basket also brings regional flavours into the festive mix. Madugula halwa presented in a gotta patti box, fresh mango pickle in a ceramic jar and mango jelly wrapped in dried areca leaves are among its popular offerings. These familiar flavours, presented in distinctive packaging, give the hampers a distinctly local character. To order, reach out to Instagram: @yellow.basket_. Dhanak NaturalsMoving away from conventional sweets and decorative gifts, Dhanak Naturals, a Visakhapatnam-based wellness brand, offers hampers that encourage recipients to make time for self-care. A sustainable Deepavali gift hamper by Dhanak Naturals. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Its Deepavali collection brings together everyday wellness and bath essentials, including almond or coconut body butters, bath powders made with natural ingredients, handmade soaps and herbal oils. One of its curated wellness hampers features a coconut-shell soy-wax candle, flower-shaped soap, lip balm and a bath loofah.The emphasis is on products that can be incorporated into everyday routines. The use of natural ingredients and alternatives such as coconut-shell containers also makes the collection an option for those looking to make more conscious choices.“We curate the hampers depending on the choices of our clients. This season, there is a growing preference for sustainable packaging, and many are looking to include wellness products in their Deepavali hampers,” says Asawari, founder of Dhanak Naturals.The hampers can be customised, making them suitable for both personal gifting and corporate orders.To order, reach out to Instagram: @dhanaknaturals.Kummari VeedhiAn earthen lamp is among the most enduring symbols of Deepavali, and including one in a festive hamper is a way of bringing traditional craftsmanship into the celebration. In Visakhapatnam, Kummari Veedhi, the city’s traditional potters’ street, offers an opportunity to source these lamps directly from the makers. Ninety-five-year-old Srikakulam Parades, one of the last traditional potters, shapes bowls and flower pots ahead of Deepavali at Kummari Veedhi (potters' street) in Visakhapatnam. Once bustling with activity during this time of the year, the street now has only one practicing potter. | Photo Credit: KR Deepak Every year, as Deepavali approaches, the potters of Kummari Veedhi prepare for the seasonal demand for earthen lamps. A visit to the neighbourhood also brings visitors closer to the stories of its ageing potters. Srikakulam Pardes, who is in his 90s, has kept the neighbourhood’s pottery tradition alive despite its gradual decline. His story is a reminder of the generations of artisans who have sustained this craft. Visitors can walk into the potters’ establishments, browse their collections and buy earthen lamps directly from the makers.A few clay diyas tucked into a handmade jute box, alongside a jar of local honey, a natural candle or a handcrafted keepsake, can make for a thoughtful festive gift.