The festival of Deepavali, also known as the festival of lights, is not bringing much joy to the skilled artisans and pottery makers who craft diyas. They are facing challenges such as a scarcity of clay, high transportation costs due to rising diesel prices, and low rainfall in October.
Despite the beautiful array of colorful diyas lighting up the city, traditional potters are feeling somber. The demand for their locally crafted diyas is decreasing because lakes are being encroached upon, not only in Hyderabad but also in other tier-2 and 3 cities. The scarcity of clay makes their challenges even worse, casting a shadow over the lives of these skilled artisans.
Rama, a diya maker in Secunderabad, shared her uphill battle with The Hans India. The increase in diesel prices is causing transportation costs to rise, with truck drivers now demanding a hefty price tag of Rs 20,000 to 23,000. This added financial burden is a significant challenge for her and others in the diya-making community, making it a tough season for their craft.
The shift towards glitzy and fashionable diyas among urban residents is impacting traditional artisans hard. The allure of these modern options is causing a decline in business for those who make traditional clay diyas. Even in rural Telangana, the trend is leaning heavily towards agriculture, leaving behind the once-flourishing tradition of pot making and diya crafting. It’s a challenging time for those rooted in these age-old crafts.
Laxmi, a diya maker, says that due to inadequate diya supply from rural parts of Telangana, they rely on states like Gujarat and Rajasthan. However, transporting these diyas from distant regions is causing a surge in transportation prices, adding another layer of challenge to their craft.
Karuna, a diya maker from Sanathnagar, laments the drastic shift in their business dynamics. What was once a profitable venture has now become an uphill battle. For every rupee spent, they are earning a mere 25 paise. The struggle is evident as she shares that out of the one lakh diyas crafted for Diwali, they struggle to sell even 10,000, highlighting the challenging times for traditional artisans.
Navya, another diya maker in L B Nagar, explains that the minimal rainfall in October had a unique impact on their diya production. If there had been ample rain, the diyas wouldn’t have dried naturally, leading to a potential surge in demand. However, since the rain was scarce, the abundance of already dried diyas poses a challenge. They find themselves in a situation where they can’t justify demanding higher prices from potential buyers, potentially resulting in losses for them.
