New Delhi, Aug 17 (KNN) In a bid to boycott Chinese goods, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has called for usage of Indian goods rather than Chinese goods in the upcoming festival upto Diwali.

The CAIT has given a call for celebration of Diwali as " Hindustani Diwali". Under this call, the birthday of Lord Ganesha on August 22nd i.e. "Ganesh Chaturthi" will be celebrated with “Environment friendly Ganesh Idol" made of mud, cow dung and manure which will be worshipped and not the china made Ganesh Idol.

CAIT National President BC Bhartia and Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal said that with the object of boycott of Chinese goods to save the environment and water from getting polluted, the CAIT has decided to promote Ganesh Idol prepared with mud, cow dung and manure having seeds of Tulsi and other vegetables so that after the festival, the Idols can be immersed in water and seeds can be pressed into the soil to take the form of a plant.

''In past years, Ganesh idol from China used to sell in large quantities on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi across the country, but this year the CAIT has advised trade associations across country to make Ganesh idols by using the art skills of local artisans, potters, women living in slum colonies and that of lower strata,'' they said.

''Through this process, the CAIT is making self-dependent people who have either no work or they have lost their jobs in COVID period,'' CAIT claimed.

The duo further stated that from now the festive season will continue in the country till diwali and about Rs 35 to 40 thousand crores of goods imported from China are sold in this season in past years which includes idols of God, incense sticks, toys. Electronics, electricals, electric bulbs series, bulbs, decorative items, brass and other metal lamps, furnishing fabric, kitchen equipment, firecrackers, etc.

''To give another jolt to China, traders all over the country have decided not to sell Chinese goods in this festive season,'' they added.