This campaign (Vocal for Local), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will be a strong presence in the Durga Puja celebrations of this year in the state of Bihar. The project that aims at urging citizens to patronize Indian-made products will be done by offering the local goods sold around the pandals at a maximum of half price, and devotees will easily take the spirit of Made in India, as they celebrate the festival.
The Durga Puja is also among the most important cultural festivals in Bihar, with thousands of worshippers attending different pandals in the towns and cities. The government has realized this and has used the festival as a medium of promoting local artisans, small-scale manufacturers and home-based businesses. There will be a variety of products, handicrafts, home decorations, fashion accessories, and festival materials, which will be created locally. The initiative will provide such products at a reduced price to persuade more individuals to prefer Indian manufactured goods to imported products.
The campaign PM Modi initiated is called the Vocal for Local and is aimed at empowering the local economy, creating jobs, and becoming self-sufficient (Aatmanirbhar Bharat). It underlines the role that should be played to preserve small-scale businesses and make sure that the local talent and craftsmanship receive a broader audience. The cultural celebrations, coupled with economic empowerment, could be achieved by mounting cultural festivals such as Durga Puja, where there is a lot of human traffic and consumerism taking place.
Bihar artisans and sellers are hopeful of the effects of the campaign. It is thought that the campaign will increase sales and publicity of their products, and this is at a time of the year when demand is the highest. To facilitate the smooth running of the activities in the pandals, the government has also liaised with the local authorities to maintain order and the availability of the shoppers.
The campaign is expected to benefit the devotees and the attendees of the festival as they will be able to enjoy high-quality products of Indian-made products at low prices. In addition to the economic factor, the project also strengthens the national sense of pride and community and provokes the citizens to contribute to the development of the local economy actively.
The effective incorporation of the Vocal of Local campaign into the Durga Puja festivals indicates the way through which cultural events can be used to enhance economic efforts. Bihar provides an example of how tradition and new policies in the economy can be in harmony by integrating the spirit of the festivities with supporting local businesses. The campaign of this year will likely have a long-lasting impact on both shoppers and artisans and drive the point home that there is no necessity to celebrate the festival itself only, but also the local talent and products.
