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Vrindavan ka Gaurav (VKG) means "the glory of Vrindavan." VKG is an artisans' collective training widows and abandoned mothers of Vrindavan in the art of poshak. Poshak is an embroidery style traditionally used to create clothing for the Krishna statues occupying the many temples of the area (Vrindavan itself is said to contain over 5,000 temples - that's one for every 12 permanent residents of this pilgrimage town!). Krishna is said to have lived in Vrindavan as a cowherd 5,000 years ago, and the town is filled with sacred sites associated with his past deeds. The primary goal of VKG is to create livelihoods for these women by giving them fair trade prices for the items they produce. Several women in Vrindavan are not so fortunate; they make embellished clothing items for smaller krishna statues sold in Vrindavan's tourist shops and they are paid less than a dollar for 10-plus hours of daily work. The secondary goal of VKG is to incorporate these women into the collective once a sufficient customer base can assure them steady incomes surpassing their current ones. VKG seeks to bring the unique qualities of Vrindavan and its women into the global marketplace. Classic stories of mystical Vrindavan and personal accounts of the town's modern day residents are shared with the intention of stimulating the imaginations and intellects of those who view and purchase VKG products. VKG thus stands out from other artisans' collectives and social entrepreneurial initiatives. Currently in its formative stages, VKG operates as one of the many Vrindavan projects overseen by Food for Life Vrindavan (FFLV). For more information about VKG, how it started and who is helping it get off the ground, please visit our Partners page.
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