Dangol, Lamichhane make money by making and selling goods of beads

BY NISHA RAI,Dharan, Aug. 31: Sumita Dangol, a resident of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City-16, has been earning a substantial income by making products from Rudraksha beads. 

According to Dangol, she started making various stuff from Rudraksha beads about six years ago when she lived in Dhankuta. After Rudraksha beads at her home stopped being sold, she made a flower basket out of Rudraksha beads which turned out well. Later, her friends and relatives started buying them which encouraged her to start a business. 

In the early days, she used to make flower baskets, grain baskets, pots and jugs and take them to markets and fairs in Dharan, Biratnagar, Janakpur and Kathmandu. “The production cost rose over time, and I was unable to hire workers. I still continue the old professions and sell the different items made of Rudraksha beads on the premises of Bouddha Stupa," said Dangol.

She said that she earns around Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 50,000 per month which is equivalent to the salary of a government employee. Therefore, she had been continuing to make products out of Rudraksha beads, she added. 

According to Dangol, only Rudraksha beads and thin iron wires are needed to make products, which makes it easy for her to work without the pressure of finding raw materials. 

Likewise, Santosh Lamichhane of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City-14, who learned the craft from Sumita Dangol has also been making products out of Rudraksha beads such as bags, vases, baskets, Shiva Linga and snakes. He has been selling products inside and outside Dharan. 

He said, “During the lockdown when there was no work and the sale of Rudraksha beads stopped, I started thinking about what to do next. While pondering, I began making different items from Rudraksha beads in the guidance of Sumita Dangol.” 

He said that the business of making different products out of Rudraksha beads was sufficient for his livelihood as the cost of each garland made from these beads ranges from Rs. 50 to Rs. 2,000. He said that they were receiving orders from Kathmandu and Pokhara. Although earnings can range from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 30,000 on weekends and Mondays due to fairs and festivals, they are usually normal on other days, allowing him to cover his expenses with some savings, he added. He said that he buys Rudraksha beads directly from the garden with an order amounting to Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 400,000 making it cheaper. 

Lamichhane said that, unlike other businesses, this business does not require a lot of raw materials, and all the raw materials are found locally. He is making a decent income from this business. 

"I am saddened to see the mass exodus of Nepali youths. Hundreds of Nepali youths are migrating to foreign countries in search of employment. Sumita Dongol's endeavour that encouraged me to be self-reliant depicts that if one is hard-working and has the skill, dedication and willpower to excel in his craft, one need not go abroad to earn a living," said Lamichhane.