Chandigarh, Oct. 30 -- Behind the diyas that light up homes, the candles that brighten festive corners and the handcrafted decorations that adorn doorways are stories that often go unnoticed. Across the tricity, women from rural backgrounds, neurodivergent youngsters and prison inmates are turning their skills into festive creations, finding in Diwali not just an opportunity to earn, but also a sense of purpose, dignity and hope.

At Chhoti Si Aasha Foundation in Khuda Lahora, around 150 to 200 women, many from nearby villages, stitch, crochet and craft lamps, torans and festive charms. Registered in 2009, the organisation has trained more than 500 women, helping them acquire skills and earn through their work.

For 46-year-old Aasha, who...