Dalit Goods Terracotta Beeswax Candle

Limited Quantity.

Lighting a Dalit candle is so much more than bringing a warm glow into your home—it’s stepping into a story of dignity, artistry, and meaningful change. These handcrafted candles don’t just fill a room with soft light and inviting fragrance; they help uplift a community that has faced generations of marginalization. Each purchase supports dignified work for the Dalit people of India, turning an everyday item into a quiet act of hope.

The clay pots themselves trace their roots back about 150 years, when potters from Gujarat settled in what is now Mumbai. Today, around 300 of these families continue their craft in Dharavi—one of Asia’s largest and most densely populated slums. As Dalits, historically labeled “untouchable,” they were long expected to do work considered “unclean,” including shaping clay from the earth. For generations, these same pots were used to reinforce stigma: Dalits were often forced to drink from them and then shatter them as a sign of their social status.

Dalit Goods has helped reclaim these pots with new purpose—symbols not of shame, but of beauty, resilience, and hope. Skilled potters shape each vessel from raw clay into a small work of art. Dalit women then hand-pour each candle in a small production studio, creating full-time, dignified employment before the candles are packed and shared with homes around the world.

Over the years, the work of Dalit Goods Co has also supported projects that provide safe, loving homes for children across India. At the heart of it all is a commitment to long-term, life-changing impact.

When you choose Dalit Goods, you’re embracing ethical purchasing and standing with artisans whose lives are transformed through meaningful work.

We warmly call these candles “D’lights” (short for Dalit lights)—a charming, thoughtful alternative to metal tealights. They make wonderful wedding favors and delightful little stocking stuffers.

 Individual Burn Time: 4 hours Candle

Dimensions: L 4 cm X W 4 cm X H 3 cm Scent - Orginal (Vanilla/Lavender blend).

Dalit Goods | Ethically handmade by artisans in India

At Dalit Goods Co., we are a company with a difference — driven by a passion to improve the lives of the poor and marginalised in India.

Launched in 2010, Dalit Goods was created to raise awareness of the plight of India’s Dalit people and to support the ongoing work of Life Association (UK Registered Charity No. 1115262). For over 25 years, Life Association has been building and managing schools and children’s homes for Dalit children across India, offering them safety, education, and hope for a brighter future.

Our products — from handmade clay pot candles to coconut oil soaps and hand-painted home décor — are ethically sourced, eco-friendly, and plastic-free. More importantly, they provide dignified employment opportunities for the Dalit community and contribute directly to Life Association’s mission.

We combine Western design with Eastern craftsmanship, and are committed to the highest standards of ethical and environmental responsibility in everything we create.

By choosing Dalit Goods, you are embracing ethical consumption while making a real difference in the lives of India’s most marginalised people.

For over 3,000 years, India’s caste system has discriminated against those born outside its hierarchy — the 250 million people once called "untouchables", now known as Dalits, meaning "downtrodden" or "oppressed".

For centuries, Dalits have faced systemic limitations in education, healthcare, employment, and even places of worship. One powerful symbol of this oppression is the clay drinking pot — used by Dalits and then smashed after each use to reinforce their perceived untouchability.

It was this symbol that first inspired the creation of Dalit Goods.

Every Dalit Goods product sold helps fund Life Association’s schools and children’s homes, offering Dalit children access to education, safety, and opportunity — a future free from discrimination.

What began with a single handcrafted candle made by Dalit artisans in Mumbai has grown into a collection of products supporting livelihoods across India — from soaps in Kerala to hand-painted décor from Kashmir.

By supporting Dalit Goods, you are helping to champion the rights and well-being of India’s Dalit community — while enjoying beautifully crafted, ethically made products.