PRAYAGRAJ, Nov. 22 -- A traditional craft once on the brink of extinction in Uttar Pradesh has not only been revived but is now finding buyers across continents. The Sajar craft-rooted in the rare Sajar stone found only in the River Ken in Banda-has been brought back to life under the state's One District One Product (ODOP) scheme, becoming a source of sustainable livelihood for hundreds of families.

What was a fading rural art form now shines on international platforms, with products reaching markets in Africa, Europe and the Gulf. At the heart of this revival is Banda-based master craftsman Dwarka Soni, whose efforts have taken the craft from village bazaars to global exhibitions.

A stone shaped by nature-and time

The rare Sajar ston...