Earthen lamps aren't burning bright anymore

Designer diyas are sounding death knell to humble mannina hanate

Lighting an array of earthen lamps is what comes into mind immediately when we think of the festival which is also considered auspicious.

Gone are the days when the city used to witness the sale of these earthen lamps in every nook and corner by the potters, who used to look forward for business after the lull of Gowri-Ganesha festival, surrounded by womenfolk choosing the best ones with neat finish and without a crack so that the oil does not seep through.

With the designer diyas flooding the market, along with the lamps made of porcelain, brass, bronze, and glass, these traditional earthen lamps are being ignored. With the modern architecture taking lead over the conventional methods and mushrooming of apartments and importance on interior decoration taking a cue, the mindset of the people have also changed with them opting for more easy and convenient lamps where there is no necessity of using oil and wicks.

Designer diyas

Moreover, with several prestigious art galleries arranging exhibitions of these designer diyas with attractive names are literally sounding death knell for the potters who have been eking out their living in this trade.

Paduvarahalli, which had many kumbaras who were involved in the business since decades has now been restricted to only one street. Venkatamma, 80 year old, recalled that nobody is interested in making diyas now and a huge hearth of 5 mts radius which was once busy baking the pots has been demolished giving way for a building now.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Subbanna, who was a full time artisan making flower pots, pitchers, pots and others lamented that many of their community people have switched on to other jobs as literally there are no takers for their produce.

Moreover, with the real estate companies not sparing even an inch of land on the outskirts of the city, they are finding it difficult to procure clay, which was once brought from the foothills of Chamundi and other places.

Now, the soil is being brought from villages near Mandya and other places and the rate per load of soil has also gone up making these potters to have second thoughts on making these traditional lamps.

Each family used to bake at least around 10,000  diyas a couple of years ago during the festive time, which has now dwindled to only 500 to 1,000. Only 100 to 150 earthen lamps were on display in front of their houses, as they do not want to stop it completely as it represents their community. Many of them were selling from the stock of the previous year also, he adds.