Chinese lights leave few takers for earthen diyas

Nikhila Pant Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 17

The hot and harsh summer season may have gone by but makers and sellers of the desi earthen diyas have started feeling the heat now. Hoping that the festival of lights will light up their houses as well, the makers are a worried lot.

Several such sellers have started selling earthen items across the city and vouch for the fact that Chinese lights have lowered the glow of diyas. “Despite the Make in India campaign of the Central Government, there has been no ban or checking on the sale of Chinese products ahead of the festival season. Over the past five-six years, there has been a dip in the number of sales,” said Bansi Lal, an artisan who has come from Ganganagar to sell diyas and other fancy items in Bathinda city.

“Sometimes, customers even ask us if we have electric diyas which can be reused the next year too. Earlier, there was a traditional that people would consider it auspicious to light diyas, that too new diyas every year. They used to drown the used diyas into a waterbody to let it dissolve and let the mud get back into its original form. Now, it is the opposite. Now people don’t mind using the old diyas but spend on buying Chinese lights every year,” said another seller Gaurishankar of Ganganagar.

Earthen creativity

To cater to the diminishing demand, makers of earthen diyas have to be creative every year. Offering diyas in various colours, shapes and sizes is how they are keeping their business alive. “We are left with no option but to offer new earthen items every year. From being used to light the houses, the diyas are now being used to decorate the houses and parties. In a sad departure from customs, the festival is now a way of showcasing once affluence. Illuminating their houses with lights is one way of doing it,” Bansi Lal said.

Stores make merry

Meanwhile, the stores selling Chinese lights, lamps and other products have been making merry as their sales have been increasing over the years. “Taping into the Indian market, Chinese products offer a huge variety of lights, lanterns and lamps. Every year, there is a slew of new items. The sales figures have been increasing every year, but we don’t take guarantee of the functioning of these lights because the same is not extended to us when we purchase the lights in bulk,” said Sanjay Bansal, a wholesale light dealer on 100-ft-road.

From disco rotating lights to add colour to the monotonous walls of a house to lanterns in various sizes, market of Chinese products indeed has a lot to offer. “They have even started idols of Indian gods and goddesses and these have been selling like hotcakes. Customers can’t even judge that these are made in China,” said Bansal.