Lights mask glow of earthen lamps

DIBRUGARH/SILCHAR: The age-old tradition of pottery in Dibrugarh is facing a significant challenge, as local potters are struggling to compete with the influx of Chinese lamps and lights, which have flooded market, ahead of Diwali.
Kachari ghat, located along the Brahmaputra, is a hub for approximately 20-25 potters.
Artisans like Shiv Kumar, a fourth-generation potter, continue to persevere and make earthen lamps and diyas.“During Diwali, we sell diyas ranging from Re 1 to Rs 10, depending on their size and design. However, our market share has been severely impacted by the competition posed by Chinese imports,” the 42-year-old potter said.
The availability of Chinese lamps and lights at affordable prices has created a shift in consumer preferences, diminishing the demand for local handcrafted earthen diyas. To add to their challenges, modern automated machines that can produce diyas have emerged in the market. However, these machines come with a steep price tag — from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh — making them unaffordable for local potters.
The plight of potters in Barak Valley is no different. While the festival of lights is just round the corner, the glow in the houses of local potters in Barak Valley is fading. Demand for earthen lamps, which once illuminated homes during Diwali, has plummeted due to the popularity of various electrical alternatives, including Chinese bulbs.
With consumers opting for cost-effective decorative lights over earthen lamps, potters are despondent as their craft is no longer profitable. Therefore, the current generation of potters is now reluctant to continue with the ancestral trade of crafting clay lamps.
“Despite an initial decline in the sale of earthen lamps, we brought together diverse designs from local sources and Kolkata, hoping for successful business during Diwali,” said Lakon Paul, a potter in Hailakandi.
“In this digital age, the warm radiance of earthen lamps has been overshadowed by the glow of electric bulbs. Despite the diminishing demand, we continue to craft clay lamps each year, hoping for a resurgence in the market,” said Radharaman Paul, a potter at Panibhara in Cachar district.