This Diwali is Andheri for the potters of Nilgiri
Balasore: For generations, Indian homes have been lit with lamps or traditional earthen lamps during Diwali. Potters now complain that customers prefer cheap fancy electric lights, putting their livelihoods at risk. Diya business has now declined rapidly.
Till a few years ago, hundreds of potters and their families would be busy with immense work ahead of Diwali, lighting thousands of small and big earthen lamps that would illuminate innumerable homes and businesses.
Nearly 4,000 potters in Baband, Tartari, Pitahata, Jamuna, Banpur, Khuliya, Daldali and Hatikhuliya villages in the Nilgiri region of Balasore district are finding it difficult to feed their families in the absence of demand for their clay products.
“There has been a huge decline in the sales of lamps. What is supposed to be a festival of lights, our lives have entered a dark phase,” said Sibnath Behera, aged around 60.
“Diwali has lost its traditional charm as cheap fancy electric lights and candles have replaced the diyas. People are more interested in decorating their homes with affordable colorful electric lights or candles which are available in abundance in shops and malls. No one is interested in traditional lamps. Today’s young generation turns away from lamps and other clay products,” he said.
“Earlier we did not even get time to rest during Diwali. But now we do not sell even a fourth of the products we produce. Diwali is not a busy time anymore. How can we survive?”, said Saraswati Behera, who learned the art from elders in her family.
There was a time when Indian families used only simple earthen lamps. Now the demand is mainly for decorated and fancy lamps.
No wonder many potters are gradually moving away from their traditional vocation in search of greener pastures.
Sibanath lamented, “Many of our families have moved to cities to work as migrant laborers (Dadan workers) as the clay products business has declined rapidly and it is becoming difficult for them to run their households. Has gone.”
Balasore: For generations, Indian homes have been lit with lamps or traditional earthen lamps during Diwali. Potters now complain that customers prefer cheap fancy electric lights, putting their livelihoods at risk. Diya business has now declined rapidly.
Till a few years ago, hundreds of potters and their families would be busy with immense work ahead of Diwali, lighting thousands of small and big earthen lamps that would illuminate innumerable homes and businesses.
Nearly 4,000 potters in Baband, Tartari, Pitahata, Jamuna, Banpur, Khuliya, Daldali and Hatikhuliya villages in the Nilgiri region of Balasore district are finding it difficult to feed their families in the absence of demand for their clay products.
“There has been a huge decline in the sales of lamps. What is supposed to be a festival of lights, our lives have entered a dark phase,” said Sibnath Behera, aged around 60.
“Diwali has lost its traditional charm as cheap fancy electric lights and candles have replaced the diyas. People are more interested in decorating their homes with affordable colorful electric lights or candles which are available in abundance in shops and malls. No one is interested in traditional lamps. Today’s young generation turns away from lamps and other clay products,” he said.
“Earlier we did not even get time to rest during Diwali. But now we do not sell even a fourth of the products we produce. Diwali is not a busy time anymore. How can we survive?”, said Saraswati Behera, who learned the art from elders in her family.
There was a time when Indian families used only simple earthen lamps. Now the demand is mainly for decorated and fancy lamps.
No wonder many potters are gradually moving away from their traditional vocation in search of greener pastures.
Sibanath lamented, “Many of our families have moved to cities to work as migrant laborers (Dadan workers) as the clay products business has declined rapidly and it is becoming difficult for them to run their households. Has gone.”
