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National Petalists Day

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National Petalists Day

National Petalists Day was anchored by a nationwide online campaign launched on 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, marking the beginning of a coordinated celebration across cities and partners. 

Designed as a central pillar of the Petalists movement, the campaign amplified stories of ability, work, and participation, generating strong engagement from our partner network. The celebrations continued through on‑ground events and culminated around 19 January, International Flower Day, reinforcing the programme’s connection to sustainable craft livelihoods.

Across Hyderabad, Lucknow, Goa, Pune, and Bengaluru, the atmosphere was celebratory and inspiring. Cultural performances by adults with intellectual disabilities, collaborative workshops, and partner recognitions brought together Petalists, caregivers, and organisations in moments of shared pride and joy. In Bengaluru, the national photography showcase “Through the Lens and Beyond the Frame”offered a powerful visual window into the everyday work, creativity, and dignity of our Petalists.

Event Highlights

Craft workshops

Cultural performances

Special guest honours

Flo-dust awards

Photography exhibition

Block painting activity

Paper Rangoli Activity

Photography Contest Winners

Through their Lens
(Photographed by Adult with Intellectual Disability)

Jagadish Vaidyanathan, Shankar Foundation

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

Upma Sharma, Avyansh Welfare Society, Bhopal

Jyoti Patil, Kamayani, Pune

Shakshi Tiwari, Rainbow Society for Differently Abled, Lucknow

All three participants have been awarded equally in this category.

Supported by

To every NGO partners, founders, trainers, caregivers and Petalists; your partnership makes dignified, creative livelihoods possible.

The Story Behind National Petalists Day

We started National Petalists Day to formally recognise adults with intellectual disabilities as productive contributors to inclusive, sustainable livelihoods.

Despite their capabilities, adults with intellectual disabilities remain significantly underrepresented in mainstream livelihood ecosystems.

National Petalists Day was created to address this gap by highlighting a scalable, dignified livelihood model that combines skill development, income generation, and circular sustainability.

National Petalists Day is more than a celebration.

It’s a declaration that every individual with intellectual disability deserves visibility, purpose, and the opportunity to thrive.