New Delhi: Ahead of Diwali festival, potters in Jammu and Kashmir are actively crafting a number of eco-friendly earthen lamps. Potter Mohammad Umar, while speaking to ANI news agency said, “We have received an order to make 20 thousand lamps. We started the work 20 days before Diwali. When Diwali comes, we feel very happy, as we get employment.”
In a busy area near the bus stand in Jammu city, another potter Dharamveer and his family are working hard to make lamps for the upcoming Diwali celebration. According to a report from PTI news agency, Dharamveer has started making 3,000 lamps for his first order.
#WATCH | J&K: Potters in Srinagar prepare earthen lamps in large numbers ahead of the Diwali festival. (05.11) pic.twitter.com/JyF4w12g74
— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2023
“It is the season of festivals. We have prepared utensils for Karva Chauth, and Diwali will follow in a few days. We have started preparing earthen lamps (diyas) for Diwali. We are working hard to make them in all sizes – small, medium, and large”, Dharamveer told PTI.
Pottery holds a deep heritage in India, with people lighting their homes using clay diyas (oil lamps) for generations during the Diwali festival.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, artisans are shaping eco-friendly earthen lamps from clay, gearing up for the upcoming Diwali celebration.
Raj Kumar, a potter, said, “We usually do not have much work for about 10 months of the year, but we spend 2 months with the whole family making earthen lamps and idols of gods and goddesses for Diwali”.
While addressing the challenges, Kumar mentioned that potters are facing difficulties due to a shortage of soil crucial for making lamps.
Earlier, they collected soil from rivers, but current restrictions prohibit this practice. As a result, they must purchase soil, with the cost ranging from ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 per tractor.
Another potter, Rajesh Prajapati told ANI news agency, “We supply diyas to various people. It is laborious work. A lot of hard work goes into it. Chinese items are made from machines, but here we prepare the clay. It’s challenging to find the best clay for diyas.”
Prajapati further said that they hopeful about doing well in their business because more people are now celebrating Diwali with clay lamps.
Diwali, a Hindu festival of lights, represents the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.
Diwali falls on Amavasya (the new moon), the 15th day of the Kartik month annually. This year, Diwali is set to be celebrated on Sunday, November 12.
(With inputs from agencies)