Hoping for a good biz this Diwali, potter keeps art of making diyas alive

At Odhan village of Sirsa district, Madan, a traditional potter, is working day and night with his family to craft clay lamps (diyas) and other earthenware for the upcoming festival of Diwali.

Even though electric lights are replacing traditional lamps, potters are hopeful that this Diwali would bring good business, as there is still a demand for their handmade products.

Madan, a 29-year-old potter, has been following in the footsteps of his father, Amar Singh, who has been in the pottery business for decades.

Madan says that the craft has been passed down through generations and is the main source of income for his family. Despite the changing times, they have managed to keep this ancient tradition alive.

Madan and his family start preparing for Diwali months in advance, crafting around 45,000 diyas, 2,000 piggy banks, and several thousand small and large pots. Additionally, another 20,000 diyas and 3,000 pots are being fired in the kiln. With just 15 days left for the festival, Madan hopes to sell all of his products before Diwali.

Madan has also made special small clay pots, known as karvas, for Karva Chauth. He has created around 10,000 karvas and expects good sales amid increasing demand. He says that this year, he has also introduced new designs, hoping to attract more customers.

Madan has modernised his craft by creating unique and attractive designs for his lamps and pots. Inspired by social media and Gujarat’s pottery models, he designed fancy lamps for Diwali, featuring special designs for Lakshmi, Ganesh, and Riddhi-Siddhi puja. These fancy lamps, priced between Rs 10 to Rs 100, have been a hit with customers. So far, he has sold around 55,000 lamps and other items, with hopes to reach a target of selling one lakh fancy lamps by Diwali.

Madan says initially, he did not want to continue his family’s pottery business. After completing his education up to Class X, he worked as a driver at the Chandigarh airport. However, after his father fell ill, Madan returned home to take over the family craft. Using social media and introducing new designs, Madan has revived the business, surprising even his father.

Seeks govt support

• Despite hard work, Madan shares that it is becoming difficult to make a profit due to rising costs.
• The price of material such as clay and wood has gone up significantly. For example, a trailer of clay that used to cost Rs 5,000 now costs Rs 6,500, and the cost of firing the kiln has increased to over Rs 10,000.
• He said the government should launch initiatives to support the potters and help them in keeping this craft alive.