Traditional diyas remain unlit as Chinese lamps come into vogue

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 28

Traditional diyas are losing ground to Chinese lamps and LED lights. The demand for earthen lamps has gone down drastically in the past few years.

These days, markets are flooded with fancy Chinese and Thailand lamps and decorative lights.

Residents prefer fancy Chinese lights that are not only cheap but also easy to put up and glow all through the night.

Once the festival of lights was an opportunity for potters to do brisk business, this year, they are a worried due to the change in preference of urban folk.

“There is a huge fall in the sale of diyas. For what is supposed to be a festival of lights, our life has entered a dark phase. People are more interested in decorating their homes with Chinese lamps or jelly candles rather than with traditional diyas,” said Krishan, a potter.

He said, “Earlier, we didn’t even get time to rest during Diwali, but now, we don’t even sell half the products we prepare. Diwali is no more a busy time for us now days.”

Potters are angry that the government has not done much to protect the traditional business of pottery.

Shallu, a women potter, said Chinese products are choking their business and with the passing of every year, their trade was declining. “The worst thing is that the government is not supporting us,” she added.

“I have just sold 100 diyas so far and if the scenario continues, I will stop making diyas from the next year. Making small beautiful diyas is a tiring job but the poor sale reflects that people no more value our work,” said Jyoti, another potter.

Rakesh Kumar, an entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the business of earthen lamps, said people wanted comfort and they avoided taking the pain of putting oil in diyas, which was a part of the country’s rich tradition.