§1What this business is
Marigold, rose, hibiscus and other flowers offered at temples are collected daily, sorted, dried and shredded. Waste paper is soaked and pulped, mixed with the flower material and natural binders, then hand-moulded into lamps, vases, trays, jewellery boxes, wall hangings, sculptures, stationery holders, idols, incense holders and diya stands. Pieces are sun- or solar-dried, painted with natural dyes and packed for temples, pilgrim shops, eco-stores, tourists and corporate gifting.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
An SHG, NGO or craft entrepreneur in a temple town who can partner with temple trusts.
Who it is not for
Someone wanting fast, uniform machine production.
Advantages
- Raw material is free — flowers that would otherwise pollute rivers
- Temple towns have pilgrims who buy sacred souvenirs
- A strong eco and faith story for gifting
- Women's groups can do most of the work
Drawbacks
- Drying is slow in the monsoon
- Hand-moulded pieces vary and take time
- Needs steady tie-ups with temple committees
- Paper mache is fragile in transport
Skills you need
- Pulp making and hand moulding
- Painting and finishing with natural dyes
- Flower collection logistics
- Selling at temples, fairs and online
Why difficulty 2/5: Simple craft and free raw material; supply tie-ups and drying are the main hurdles.
§3Market
Who buys
- Pilgrims and temple shops
- Tourists
- Urban households and eco-stores
- Corporate gift buyers
How it sells
- Sales at temples and pilgrimage centres
- Craft fairs and exhibitions
- Online sales
- Corporate gifting orders
Good to know
- The profile also lists utility items such as paper mache plates, cups and storage containers.
- Cooperative models where artisans share infrastructure are suggested to cut costs.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Flower shredders | 5 | — |
| Pulp preparation units | 5 | — |
| Hand moulds and tools | 20 sets | — |
| Drying racks and solar dryers | 10 | — |
| Painting and finishing tools | 10 sets | — |
| Packaging machines | 5 | — |
| Machinery & equipment in total | — | ₹8,00,000 |
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Paper Mache Products from Temple Flowers in Uttarakhand
- Temple floral waste (marigold, rose, hibiscus, seasonal flowers)collected daily from temples
- Waste paper and natural fibres
- Adhesives, natural dyes and eco-friendly varnish
From: Uttarakhand DUY project profile — Paper Mache Products from Temple Flowers in Uttarakhand
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam registration
- GST registration
- Written agreement with temple trusts for flower collection
- Artisan identity card (Pehchan) from the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) — useful for fairs and schemes
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP fits (₹34 L); MUDRA up to ₹20 L; CGTMSE for a collateral-free loan. The profile names the National Handicrafts Development Programme and Skill India for support.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Survey & mobilisation ₹2 L + infrastructure ₹5 L + machinery & equipment ₹8 L + raw material ₹3 L + training ₹2 L + first-year salaries ₹6 L + transport ₹2 L + marketing & branding ₹3 L + admin ₹1 L + contingency ₹2 L = ₹34 L.
Working capital: Raw material ₹3 L and first-year salaries ₹6 L are in the budget. Temple trusts can donate flowers and space; NHDP, Skill India, cooperative banks, microfinance and CSR are named as funding sources.
Year not printed on the profile — check current machinery and material prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: EPCH (Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts)
- Decorative paper mache handicrafts may be classed elsewhere — confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Mould or fungus if pieces are not fully dried
- Flower supply drops outside festival seasons
- Breakage in shipping
- Dependence on temple permissions
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working paper mache products from temple flowers unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Paper Mache Products from Temple Flowers?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.