Indians have started the Rice Bucket Challenge after being inspired by the success of the Ice Bucket Challenge in the United States.
The Facebook page promoting the challenge says that the rules are simple--donate one bucket full of rice to the poor.
“If you too think you can make a difference, you can make the world a better place for everyone then i challenge you to donate one bucket full of rice to the poor. Thats the #RiceBucketChallenge,” the page said.
“The original idea of indian version is conceptualized by Manju Latha Kalanidhi and is so inspiring that it needs to spread across India! The purpose of the page to create wider reach!”
The journalist Kalanidhi, 38, told QZ that she thought it was senseless to copy the Ice Bucket Challenge in India because of reasons including clean water is hard to come by.
“The idea of dunking oneself in icy cold water, shrieking in horror and then uploading the bizarre video felt preposterous. I wanted to just do something local, meaningful without wasting anything.” she said. “So rice replaced water here.”
The Facebook page, created last week, already has over 36,000 likes and gets numerous photos shared to it of people partaking in the challenge.
“Response has been staggering,” said Manju. “You can donate to any needy person—a poor kid, a vegetable seller, your maid, driver, watchman, orphanage etc.”
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