Rolling Dreams: The Women Who Turned Agarbatti into Financial Independence in Dhenkanal

In the discreet villages of Sarpa in Nuagaon Gram Panchayat of Dhenkanal District, where the air hums with devotion and the scent of incense curls skyward with every prayer, a group of women has turned an ancient tradition into an engine of empowerment. Their story—of resilience, enterprise, and the transformative power of collective action—is embodied in every stick of Mani Kanchan Agarbati, a humble yet potent symbol of change.

Incense, or agarbatti, is more than just fragrance in Indian culture—it’s a bridge between the earthly and the spiritual. But for the women of Maa Mahalaxmi SHG, it has also become a bridge to financial independence.

Supported by the Tata Steel Foundation’s Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Project and the Gruhalaxmi Cooperative Society, what began as a modest venture in 2023 has now blossomed into Mani Kanchan Agarbati—a brand that carries not just aroma, but the aspirations of its creators.

With ₹24,000 pooled from their own savings, the women took their first step—buying a manual agarbatti-making machine, raw materials, and training themselves in the craft. Their hands, once confined to household chores, now rolled incense sticks with precision.

But the journey wasn’t without struggle. Machines jammed, production stalled, and doubts crept in. Yet, their debut batch—a staggering 37,000 incense sticks—proved their resilience. The SHG secretary’s home doubled as their first “shop,” and soon, the fragrance of their labour spread across neighbouring villages.

Recognizing their potential, the Gruhalaxmi Cooperative Society stepped in, branding their product as Mani Kanchan—a name evoking both elegance and local pride. In their first financial year, they sold 35 packets, a humble start that marked the beginning of something far greater.

For the women, the real victory wasn’t just in sales—it was in the steady monthly income of ₹3,500–₹4,000, a sum that brought not just financial relief but social empowerment.

The Turning Point, on March 15, 2024, their efforts received a major boost when the Gruhalaxmi Cooperative provided them with an automatic agarbatti-making machine. Faster production, improved quality, and expanded market reach now lie ahead, turning their small-scale operation into a scalable enterprise. Since the beginning of this journey until April 2025, the SHG achieved impressive net sales of ₹9.5 Lakhs.

Mrs. Padmini Senapati, President of Gruhalaxmi Cooperative Society and also a member of Maa Mahalaxmi SHG from Sarpa embodies this transformation. “Through this enterprise, I earned my first independent income, which helped support my family,” she says. “Today, we don’t call ourselves just housewives—we are proud entrepreneurs.”

The story of Mani Kanchan Agarbati is not just about business—it’s about dignity, self-worth, and breaking barriers. What began as a prayerful tradition has now become a vehicle for economic and social liberation.

As the fragrant smoke of their agarbatti rises, so do the dreams of these women—proving that when opportunity meets determination, even the smallest spark can ignite a revolution. As they say “We rose. We created. We became.”