Potters strive to keep tradition of making earthen lamps alive
Manmeet Singh Gill
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, October 29
Though wax candles and electric lights have outdone earthen lamps (diyas) for illuminating homes on Diwali, many potters’ families are still keeping the tradition alive hoping that these will make a comeback.
For Ram Kumar, who makes and sells diyas, near Gate Hakima, the change has already started ushering in. “We have seen times when cheap electricity lights imported from China was the first choice of customers. But people have started coming back. Diyas are considered pious,” he said. He added that electric lights or wax candles do not bring the same excitement and sense of involvement.
As different colour combinations and shapes of electric lights attract customers, potters’ too have made variations in their designs and colouring patterns. “Earthen lamps have become larger in size and even colours have become brighter,” said Devi Das, another potter. He added that though most people illuminated their homes with electric lights, many of them also used earthen lamps inside their residences.
The potters’ rued that they face shortage of space to continue their businesses. “We need space to make diyas. As most potters are poor we use parks and roadsides for the purpose. Besides the business requires all members of the family, but younger generation is turning away from it as they feel that it is not profitable,” said Sonu, a young potter.
With changing times, many families have shifted to other businesses as they considered earning livelihood from pottery as a hard option. Even as the usage of earthen pots for cooking has stopped, still potters are trying to keep pace with the changing times.
One such innovation they have made is to attach a plastic tap to water pitchers. “With new ideas like these , the younger generation has managed to survive in the business, but the truth is that no potter wants his/her son to be a potter,” said Kewal Ram, an old timer.
