Ahmedabad: Devotees visiting Somnath Temple will now receive prasad in cardboard or metal packaging instead of the plastic boxes currently in use. The new packaging, designed by a team from National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, was launched by chief minister Bhupendra Patel at Prabhas Patan on Thursday.The initiative, undertaken by Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and Shree Somnath Trust in partnership with NID, aims to reduce plastic packaging discarded by devotees after consuming the prasad. Officials said the move would help cut the thousands of kilogrammes of plastic waste generated through the existing packaging.
The new prasad packaging, designed by a team from National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad, was launched by chief minister Bhupendra Patel at Prabhas Patan on Thursday
The project began at NID in 2024 and involved research, design development, prototyping and the production of pilot batches. The team included faculty member Neha Mandlik, designers and students of the institute, officials said.“The paper packaging, intended for the instant-consumption category, uses a material that can decompose easily after disposal. The metal packaging, developed for the premium takeaway category, is designed for durability and reuse,” an official said.
The new prasad packaging for Somnath temple, designed by a team from National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
The new prasad packaging for Somnath temple, designed by a team from National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
The new prasad packaging for Somnath temple, designed by a team from National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad
The packaging’s colour palette draws inspiration from haldi-kumkum, while its design incorporates references to Nandi and bel leaves, which are traditionally offered to Lord Shiva.As Somnath prasad reaches devotees across the country, the new packaging will also carry a message of reduced plastic use, officials said.
