Panti- Utsavacha Parva

Designer: Rupal Naikele
Location: India
Project Type: Student Project
School: MIT Institute of Design, Pune
Tutor: Prof. Dr. Ranjana Dani
Packaging Contents: Diwali Pooja & Celebration kit
Packaging Substrate/Materials: Plain PVC Foam Sheet 5mm
Printing Process: Digital Print(Vinyl Print)

PANTI

“Panti” encapsulates the essence of Indian traditions and rituals through packaging that highlights the Maharashtrian culture and Diwali traditions. The vibrant imagery of a hassle-free Maharashtrian Diwali pooja kit, combined with essential details about Diwali pooja, allows users to experience an authentic and seamless pooja, with rich colors and engaging visuals, our packaging invites consumers to immerse themselves in the traditions and rituals of Diwali in India.

Uniqueness of the packaging

In the present scenario study, individuals aged 20 to 30, who reside away from home for education or work purposes and are recently married, lack of familiarity with the rituals and importance of Diwali puja feeling disconnected from their cultural roots. Tailored to meet the simple and easy way to celebrate the festival with minimal rituals adhering to the significance of the festival in a limited time; taking into consideration their busy lifestyle. This kit provides a simplifying festival rituals and celebrations, starting with a hassle-free Diwali pooja and celebration kit. This kit includes all the authentic essentials needed to perform the Diwali pooja, along with detailed explanations of each item’s importance and traditional usage, helping individuals reconnect with our cultural heritage.

Target Audience

Young adults aged 20 to 30, newly married lives in nuclear family and starting their own households and people who live outside for working and for studies.

Brand Values

• Simplified
• Warmth
• Rejoicing
• Adornment
• Values
• Community
• Sustainability

Brand Concept

• Cultural Connection: “Panti” means Diya (Oil Lamp) in Maharashtra, symbolizing victory over darkness during Diwali.
• Recognizability: A term widely understood across India.
• Traditional Appeal: Authentically evokes the richness of the Indian festival of Diwali.
• Usability: Simple, short, and easy to perform.
• Symbolism: Represents Diwali’s cultural traditions and rituals.

Brand Story

In Maharashtra,  the festival of Diwali is known as the “The Festival of Lights”, a diya is referred to as a “Panti”. This symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, reflecting the cultural significance of the celebration in the region.

“To celebrate their triumph, villagers lit diyas or panti to illuminate the path over which Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana the return home after 14 years of exile. This was the celebration of good over evil as Shri Rama defeated the Aasura King Ravana”.

Design Approach

In India, Diwali is a festival deeply rooted in cultural and ritualistic traditions, celebrated in diverse ways across the country. Amid busy lifestyles, people desire a hassle-free yet authentically cultural Diwali celebration. Here, a design intervention provides the opportunity to create an ideal kit that perfectly balances rituals and celebrations. This packaging incorporates elements that evoke the essence of culture, rituals, and the significance of Diwali. With vibrant colors and dynamic illustrations and patterns, it captures the playful spirit of Maharashtrian culture, infusing the design with joy. Additionally, the packaging is designed to be lightweight and flexible, including a detailed guide on performing a traditional Diwali pooja. By integrating these aspects, the packaging brings the essence of culture and rituals to life, allowing consumers to reconnect with their heritage.

Inside the “Panti” box, you’ll find an easy-to-follow pooja process guide and explanations of the significance of each item in the pooja samagri (ingredients). This kit provides insights into the rich cultural heritage of Maharashtrian Diwali, helping you reconnect with your roots, empowering your confidence, and allowing you to feel deeply connected to the culture.

Pinguli Chitrakathi Art is used in packaging

I chose the dynamic Pinguli Chitrakathi Art for our “Panti” packaging of the Diwali pooja kit. Pinguli Chitrakathi is a tribal art form from the village of Pinguli in Maharashtra that combines storytelling and art, primarily depicting scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Chitrakathi artists hail from the Thakar tribe.

Pinguli Chitrakathi art, with its rich storytelling tradition based on the Ramayana and Mahabharata, beautifully conveys the cultural and historical essence of our brand, “Panti,” in Maharashtrian culture. The illustrations, featuring bold lines and vibrant colors, reflect the meaning of “Panti.” Patterns of lamps, leaves, and diyas have symbolic connections to Diwali in Maharashtra.

1. Lamp: Whether it’s an oil lamp or an aakash kandil, it symbolizes victory over darkness.
2. Mango Leaves and Marigold Flower Toran: These symbolize purity and chastity.
3. Kalash: A symbol of abundance, wisdom, and immortality.
4. Lotus: A symbol of wealth and prosperity and the seat of the Goddess of wealth, Laxmi.

Each box not only safeguards the ingredients but also conveys the rich cultural heritage and significance of the items used in the Diwali pooja.

Colour Palette of the  packaging

I chose this vibrant color palette for the packaging, inspired by the Pinguli Chitrakathi Art style. In Pinguli, natural colors are used for painting, derived from flowers, fruits, leaves, and rocks to depict scenes from folklore, the Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. Just as this art style is rooted in nature, this packaging kit is deeply rooted in culture and rituals.

These vibrant colors reflect the celebratory mood of Diwali, radiating warmth and joy while capturing the essence of each ingredient in the Diwali pooja.

Things inside the Panti Box

The Diwali pooja samagri includes a variety of items essential for performing the pooja: Incense Cones, Camphor, Turmeric, Kumkum, Rice, Lotus Seed, Cotton wick, Kalash, Sandalwood, Handbell, Laxmiji Photo, Moli (sacred thread), Small Broom, Coriander Seeds, Supari(betel nut), Srifal(coconut), Book & Pen, Dry fruits, Diyas(oil lamps), Rangoli Stickers, Toran (decorative garland).

Additionally, the box contains a card with detailed information about each samagri used in the pooja, helping people understand the significance of each item and the rituals associated with Diwali. This comprehensive inclusion ensures that individuals can perform the Diwali pooja with a deeper appreciation of its cultural and spiritual significance.
This are the Diwali pooja samagri which is used to perform a diwali pooja.

Things on the “Panti” Box (Outside Box)

The outside box of “Panti” features the brand story through abundant illustrations and patterns, richly explaining the brand. This Diwali pooja packaging covers two days of the festival: “Chothi Diwali” (Narak Chaturdashi) and “Badi Diwali” (Laxmi Pooja). The exterior of the box narrates the stories of Chothi Diwali (Narak Chaturdashi) and Badi Diwali (Laxmi Pooja), explaining the significance of these two days and why they are celebrated.

Things on the “Panti” Box (Inside Box)

Inside the box, one side contains a detailed guide to the pooja process, ensuring that people can perform the Diwali pooja seamlessly and authentically. The other side features the shlokas recited during the pooja, providing all the necessary details to facilitate a hassle-free and genuine pooja experience. These elements are thoughtfully included to help users engage deeply with the rituals and traditions of Diwali.

Utilization of the Box

The box itself transforms into an Aakash Kandil (Table/Hanging lamp), adding a celebratory and decorative element to your Diwali celebration.

Box sizes

Outside Box: 
355.6mm x 762mm, Hexagon: 127mm
Inside Box: 
317.5mm x 685.8mm, Hexagon: 4.5”
Trays: 127mm Each.
Cards: 101.6mm Each
Ingredient Boxes: 88mm
Hanging label: 70mm