On the occasion of Diwali, more than 100 residents of Bedia Tola – non-descript village of Baliapur block of Dhanbad – majority of whom are snake charmers by profession, sparkled with joy as they received goodies including dresses from a Dhanbad born and Mumbai based fashion designer Preity Pathak (24).

Pathak, who is working with Mumbai-based Tulsi Studio, is engaged in Philanthropic activity along with some friends in the village since last year. She has also completed formalities for the launch of a stitching centre on Sunday (November 7) in the same village.

Talking to The Telegraph Online on Friday, Pathak said, “I started distributing foods and dresses among women and children during Diwali in Bedia Tola since last year.”

Children wearing Preity’s (in light green salwar-kamij) designed dress cheering with Preity Pathak

"Though the entire dress collection, including sherwani for boys, lehenga for girls and saris for women were designed and stitched by me last year, but due to busy schedule this year I myself stitched only around 12 dresses and the remaining dresses for around 90 others were stitched from market on payment basis," informed Pathak.

“During the interaction with the women in the village, I came to know that two women are skilled in stitching while two other who have some basic knowledge of stitching and can be groomed with little training,” said Pathak.

Preity Pathak (in light green salwar-kamij) serving meal among the snake charmers family and poor children of Bediatola at Pradhankhanta in Dhanbad to celebrate Diwali on Thursday

“As the men of the village could hardly earn enough through their traditional occupation of snake charming or daily wage earning, we decided to make the women self-dependent through the launch of the stitching training centre for which we have bought three sewing machines which will be installed on Sunday at the centre," stated Pathak.

"Besides carrying out stitching to earn for the family, the women will also provide training to other women of the village," said Pathak and added she will bear the initial cost of rent of the centre, which is around Rs 1500 per month, for around six months.

Children posing for photo wearing Preity’s designed dress that Preity gifted them for Diwali during a celebration at Bediatola in Pradhankhanta, Dhanbad on Thursday

"As I am confident that the women will soon be able to earn benefit, they will be able to meet the rent cost after the incubation period," said Pathak and added that service to people had become a mission for her as she has somehow managed to take leave to celebrate Diwali with the villagers and also launch the centre for them.

"Me and my family members including my parents and brother spent the entire day in the village, distributing dresses, sweets and khichdi among the villagers, during which the nitty-gritty of launching the centre was also finalised," said Pathak and added some of her friends and seniors are helping her in the project.