Students of Jeevan Jyoti School with their diyas and candles in Dhanbad on Tuesday. Picture by Gautam Dey

These handmade diyas and candles have a special touch.

Students of Jeevan Jyoti School, a centre for the differently abled in Dhanbad, have brightened up the lives of many coal town residents with their creations this Diwali, thus adding to the institute’s coffers.

Three mentally challenged and 22 deaf and mute children made a profit of Rs 15,000 by selling floating candles, gel candles, diya candles, fancy diyas and regular candles.

“We witnessed a tremendous response from Dhanbad citizens this year. Diyas and candles worth Rs 15,000 were sold. Our major customers included Dhanbad deputy commissioner Sunil Kumar Burnwal and gynaecologist Sangita Karan,” said special educator-cum-assistant speech therapist of the school Ranjit Kumar, adding that the candle-making programme was part of the year-long vocational training provided by the institute.

He further said they also supplied their products to 17 Degrees, a city hotel, for candlelight dinners and the profits were utilised to fund activities of the school.

Instructor of the vocational training programme Subhendu Biswas said the colourful candles were placed in aluminium bowls and were priced at Rs 7 each. The floating candles, a popular pick, cost Rs 5 per piece while gel candles came for Rs 25 each. Diya candles and regular candles cost Rs 6 each and fancy diyas Rs 3 each.

“Besides being attractive, these items are also much cheaper than the products available in the market. We have also adhered to the district administration’s instructions and made paper bags instead of polythene bags as part of the vocational training programme,” said Kumar.

Principal and course co-ordinator Aparna Das said besides candle-making, they also imparted lessons in bouquet creations, tailoring and carpentry to 95 special students of the school. “We are planning to impart training in pottery. The aim of this vocational course is to make the students financially independent,” she added.

Gynaecologist Sangita Karan, who bought diyas worth more than Rs 8,000, said besides decorating her home, she would gift the accessories to Rikhiya Pith Ashram at Deoghar.