How we partnered with 80 schools to celebrate Goddess Saraswati with plant-based prasad, respecting tradition while advocating for compassion.
Often, advocacy is framed as “us versus them” – modern values clashing with traditional practices. But at One Just World, we believe in the power of the “And”. We can honor sacred traditions and expand our circle of compassion to include all animals.
In West Bengal, Saraswati Puja is a time when students seek blessings for knowledge and wisdom. It is a day of purity, celebration, and sharing *prasad* (sacred offering). Traditionally, dairy is a key component of these offerings. However, the industrial reality of dairy production often contradicts the very values of non-violence (*ahimsa*) that the tradition reveres.
“Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.” – Gustav Mahler
We didn’t ask schools to stop celebrating. We didn’t shame the use of dairy. Instead, we offered a compassionate alternative that aligned with the spirit of the festival.
The Initiative
We partnered with 80 schools across Kolkata to introduce plant-based *prasad* for Saraswati Puja. The initiative involved:
- Respectful Dialogue: Engaging with school principals and priests to explain the ethical considerations of modern dairy.
- Culinary Innovation: Working with local chefs to create delicious, dairy-free versions of traditional sweets like *sandesh* and *kheer*.
- Student Engagement: Hosting sessions on “Compassion in Action,” helping students connect their devotion to the Goddess with kindness towards cows.
The result? Over 15,000 students enjoyed plant-based prasad. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive – not because it was “vegan” (a word we rarely used), but because it was delicious, pure, and cruelty-free.
Why It Worked
This success reinforces our core belief: People are willing to change when they don’t feel attacked. By providing a solution that honored their culture, we turned a potential point of conflict into a celebration of shared values. This is the model of “Deep Institutional Influence” we are scaling across India.
Contributors
Varda Mehrotra, Co-Founder – OJW
Sanchita, Communications – OJW
