30–31 January & 1 February | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Taj Ganges, Varanasi, UP
Open to all • Beginners welcome • Limited 50 seats
Workshop Fee: Free
-
High-quality yarn materials
-
Step-by-step guided crochet lessons
-
3 days of hands-on training
-
Light refreshments each day
-
Participation certificate (only after completing all 3 day)
Threads of Livelihood is a hands-on skill training program designed to teach participants how to make a crochet lotus flower using structured, step-by-step techniques. The training focuses on building practical crochet skills that can be transformed into income-generating opportunities, especially for women and creative learners.
The program will be conducted during Banaras Lit Fest 2026 at Taj Ganges, Varanasi, and will include complete material support, guided learning, and certification upon completion. This training encourages creativity, self-reliance, and livelihood development through traditional handcraft skills aligned with sustainable income practices.
Who Can Join?
-
All age groups
-
Beginners
-
Craft lovers & hobbyists
-
Anyone interested in handmade art
No previous crochet experience needed.
DAY
1
30 January 2026 (2 PM – 5 PM)
-
Introduction to crochet basics
-
Understanding yarn, hooks & stitches
-
Starting the lotus petals
-
Practice & individual guidance + Light refreshments
DAY
2
31 January 2026 (2 PM – 5 PM)
-
Completing lotus petals
-
Learning to create the crochet leaf
-
Beginning the lotus bud
-
Interactive learning + Light refreshments
DAY
3
1 February 2026 (2 PM – 5 PM)
-
Finishing the bud
-
Final assembly: flower + leaf + bud
-
Display of completed creations
-
Certificate Distribution Ceremony + Light refreshment.
Master Crochet Mentor
Dr Babita Biswas
List of the selected Participant
Aadya Agnihotri
Aamna Mohammadi
Alka Agrawal
Ananya Srivastava
Anchal Srivastava
Anjali Singh
Apurva Shyam
Ashish Srivastava
Divyanshi Nigam
Gautami Lalwani
Himanshi Soni
Iqra Ansari
Kumari Lakki
Mazda begum
Mahim Nizam
Rishabh Raj
Riya Rahi
Roshan Pandey
Sakshi Yadav
Shahnoor Ansari
Shalini Srivastava
Shreya Gupta
Shreya Srivastava
Sristi
Tanisha krishna
Tanishq Goswami
Usha Kumari
Vaibhavi singh
Varsha dey
Guest, Crochet Mentor
Vandana Kapur
.png)
CSR PARTNER
REPORT
Threads of Livelihood – Crochet Lotus Flower Craft & Skill Training for Sustainable Income
Organised by : BCC (KNOT & SHINE CREATIONS)
CSR Partner: Ganga Acrowools Limited
Venue: Banaras Lit Fest 2026, Taj Ganges, Varanasi
Dates: 30 January – 1 February 2026
About the Project
Threads of Livelihood is a skill development initiative conceptualised and led by Dr. Babita Biswas, Founder of Briatoshs and Knot & Shine Creations. The programme was designed to introduce participants to the fundamentals of crochet while demonstrating how handmade craft skills can contribute to sustainable income opportunities.
The three-day training focused on teaching participants to create a crochet lotus flower, beginning with the basics of crochet and progressing to a finished lotus with leaf and bud.
Objectives
-
Promote crochet as a creative and livelihood-oriented skill.
-
Introduce beginners to the fundamentals of crochet.
-
Encourage self-employment and sustainable income through handcrafted products.
-
Preserve and promote handmade textile crafts.
-
Build a supportive crochet community.
Programme Highlights
-
Duration: Three days
-
Total Participants: 30
-
Male Participants: 3
-
Major Age Group: 21–25 years
-
Senior Participants: 3–4
-
Beginners: 24 participants with no prior crochet experience
-
Training Method: Live demonstrations, practical learning and individual guidance
-
Certification: Certificates awarded to participants who attended all three day
Innovation
One of the unique highlights of the programme was the handcrafted crochet lanyards prepared for every participant’s ID card. These handmade lanyards became an attraction during Banaras Lit Fest and showcased crochet as a creative art form to visitors.
Impact
The programme successfully transformed beginners into confident learners by providing structured practical training. Participants developed a strong foundation in crochet and completed their own crochet lotus flowers. The initiative encouraged creativity, patience, confidence and introduced participants to the possibility of generating income through handmade crafts.
Acknowledgements
Briatoshs sincerely thanks:
-
Ganga Acrowools Limited for extending CSR support through yarns and financial assistance.
-
Every participant for their enthusiasm and dedication.
-
Volunteers and coordinators whose commitment ensured the smooth execution of the programme.
-
Banaras Lit Fest for providing a platform to present this skill development initiative
About the Creator
The Threads of Livelihood programme was conceptualised, designed and personally conducted by Dr. Babita Biswas, Founder of Briatoshs and Knot & Shine Creations. Through this initiative, she continues her mission of promoting handmade crafts as a means of creativity, self-reliance and sustainable livelihood.
Looking Ahead
Following the success of the Banaras Lit Fest edition, Briatoshs plans to expand Threads of Livelihood to more cities across India, reaching aspiring artisans, students, homemakers and craft enthusiasts through structured crochet skill training programmes.