Struggling to make ends meet, a potter employs his full family, including school going children to lighten up your Diwali. DNA takes an up close into the profession, which has been connected lighting up Diwali every year in the most traditional way possible.
Waking up at 4am in the morning and sleeping after mid night, to having just one meal a day, the potters in Paharganj area make sure that the supply of diyas in Diwali is never short of the demand. Most of the potters even employ their school going children during the peak season to help them meet demand.
"Buying a diya is easy however its tedious process to light them up. First we have to dip them in water, buy oil, cotton and latter lighten them up, in today's busy world it is more convenient to buy candles and electric diyas which are way more easy to lighten and maintain. The headache is much lesser," said Bhavana Malik, house wife and mother of two.
However, the struggle to lighten up Diwali often becomes hard for the potters, as most of them suffer multiple cuts on hands and other skin problems, making it tougher to mould the clay and during the peak season the skin related problems often escalates as the work with clay and machine increases.
"Every year he faces same skin problem, doctors say it is because of the exposure to the clay and the only way to keep it in control is continuous medication or stop making diyas totally," said Lalit Parjapati, who's father has been moulding clay for over 50 years in the Paharganj area.
The profession although has seen decline as most of the people prefer lights and candle to decorate their homes, bring down the prices of the diya and further cutting the profit margin of a potter.
"While everything around us has seen price rise, the diyas have been selling a constant rate, even though manufacturing cost has increased. For about two years now we have been selling a diya for 40 paisa only," said Suresh Prajapati, another potter in vicinity.
Making the condition worst is the increased purchases of earthen items from Kolkata by the wholesalers of Sadar, the traders find the items from finished and cheaper. While potters in Delhi stick to the traditional plain diya, potters in Kolkata use machines to manufacture them giving them neat, colorful and an appealing look.
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Uttam Nagar: At a walking distance from Uttam Nagar West, about 200 potters work 15 hours a day months ahead of festive season to make sure the demand for earthen lamps (diya) is met on time. The potters of this market claim to supply the diyas to neighbouring states as well. Most of them send their products to Haryana and Punjab. A simple diya is sold at 40 paisa per piece.
Paharganj (Old Delhi): One of the biggest wholesale markets of clay items in Delhi, Paharganj area is home to potters from Rajasthan who came to the national capital after the partition. Most of the potters in this market are third or even fourth generation potters and the tradition of joining family profession still runs strong in the area.
Saket: Sitting in front of one of the prominent hospitals in Delhi, the vendors of this market, reach the place around 20 days before the Diwali, to make sure that good made of clay reach every house. Mostly known for diyas the market is also home to decoration items made of clay.
