Agra: This Diwali homes in Agra, Uttar Pradesh will be lit by diyas made from cow dung. The district jail has assigned the task of making one lakh such diyas to 12 of its inmates ahead of the festival.
According to reports, there are about 80-85 cows in a gaushala, built within the jail premises, and their dung is being used in making the diyas.
Jail superintendent P D Salonia said on Thursday that he came across the unique way of making diyas during a visit to Vedmata Shree Gayatri Trust in Anwalkhera in the district, reports news agency PTI.
He said the inmates have already prepared 25,000 diyas and each piece will be sold at 40 paise. The jail inmates get a daily wage of Rs 25 for making diyas.
“They will make about one lakh diyas. We have received an order for 51,000 diyas from Vedmata Shree Gayatri Trust in Anwalkheda here. The rest will be put up for sale near the jail gate. An exhibition will also be organised at Kothi Meena Bazar fair,” Salonia told PTI.
“If the inmates manage to make more than 1,00,000 diyas, we will use them to light up the jail premises on Diwali,” he added.
Besides making diyas this time, the jail inmates also prepare cow dung logs, which are used as an alternative to wood in cremations.
