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National Petalists Day

Join the Photography Contest

National Petalists Day

Craftizen Foundation launches Petalists Day on 19 January 2026, aligning with International Flower Day. Rooted in the Petalists Livelihood Programme, which creates dignified livelihoods for adults with intellectual disabilities through skilling in recycled temple flowers and handcrafted products, the initiative builds on Craftizen’s network of 100+ partner organisations across India.

Petalists Day creates a shared, national platform for visibility and participation—bringing together photographs, products, stories, and people from across this collective. It strengthens connections between partners and makes visible the creativity, work, and everyday lives of adults with intellectual disabilities.

At its heart, Petalists Day is about recognition, dignity, and belonging—built through collaboration, visibility, and community.

National Petalists Day Highlights

National Petalists Day brings together stories, images, craft, and community through the following:

  • An online campaign from 3 December (International Day of Persons with Disabilities) to 19 January(International Flower Day), sharing real stories from across India

  • A national photography contest

  • A showcase of handcrafted Petalists products

  • Regional events across January 2025 and a Bengaluru gathering on 31 January 2025

Photography Contest

Every photograph carries a point of view. Some perspectives, however, have had fewer platforms to be seen.

Adults with intellectual disabilities have long engaged with the world visually—observing, noticing, and interpreting in ways that are deeply their own.

National Petalists Day brings these perspectives to the forefront through a national photography contest dedicated to photographs captured by adults with intellectual disabilities.

Petalists Day

Photography Categories

Craftizen invites photograph submissions under two categories:

Through Their Lens: Photographs taken by adults with intellectual disabilities — free expressions and images of their choosing.

Beyond the Frame: Photographs of adults with intellectual disabilities, captured by caregivers, parents, or facilitators, submitted through non-profits* working in the sector.

*Submissions must be made by registered organisations.

Selected photographers will be recognised with honorariums of:

  • ₹5,000
  •  ₹3,000
  •  ₹2,000

Entries close on 15th January 2026, 12 AM IST.