The tradition of making earthen lamps remains a sacred practice for potters. However, their religious and economic sentiments connected with the festival of lights face a jolt this year due to soaring inflation and the pervasion of cheap plastic lights throughout local markets, making it difficult for them to secure their daily sustenance.
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Kishori Lal Pandit, a local artisan from Kamakhya, meticulously molds clay on his potter's wheel and fashions it into the shape of an eye. It has become a routine for him; however, he claims that he is slowly losing interest in his craftsmanship.
"It really pains me to know that my work won't even get me a meager income. Most people these days prefer Chinese lights, and because of this, my business is getting hampered," laments Kishori Lal.
According to him, the soil required for making these clay lamps is sourced from areas like Sadilapur, Chandrapur, and Amingaon, but due to its limited availability, the cost has skyrocketed.
"Usually, making these clay lamps necessitates around 14 tonnes of soil, which is transported in a dumper vehicle, and the cost falls around ₹10,000," added Kishori Lal. "This cost increase is significant, considering it was previously only ₹5,000."
Speaking to Mohan Kumar, another local potter from Beltola said, "We don't make earthen lamps anymore; we get them from other districts of Assam and sell them off."
The majority of the clay lamps are produced in Goalpara, Palashbari, Dhubri, and then transported to the city where the potters shoulder the responsibility of selling them.
The clay lamps, available in different shapes and sizes, are delivered in sacks, with each sack containing approximately 1000 pieces. The cost for each sack generally ranges from ₹900 to ₹1000.
"The price of these bags used to be very low before Covid. It was ₹700, but after the pandemic, everything has become expensive," Mohan Kumar adds.
However, there is a significant issue faced by both potters and shopkeepers. While the clay lamps are being transported, a major number of them are damaged during transit.
According to Gauri Kumari, who owns a pottery shop in Kamakhya, claims, "Almost 40 percent of the earthen lamps are damaged, and this hampers my business as it gets difficult to meet the target."
Gauri Kumari states that no one in her family has any knowledge of shaping clay, and hence it becomes an agonizing task for her. Consequently, she's only able to produce 250-300 earthen lamps on a daily basis.
"I sell the clay lamps for ₹15 per dozen, but customers typically buy them in smaller quantities like 100 pieces, resulting in a loss for me," Gauri explains. "My total income for the entire day usually amounts to around ₹800, and occasionally, if I'm fortunate, it goes beyond that."
She also stated that most people go directly to the places where the clay lamps are made and buy them, further dampening the business.
The local artisan community has also expressed concerns about the government's lack of sternness towards the banning of plastic lights, and every Diwali their promises remain hollow.
Despite the low income, the hopes of the potters are pinned for Diwali. However, during off-seasons, their source of income mostly depends on their other artistic ingenuities like making flower tubs, tandoors (clay ovens), and sometimes clay figurines.
Although Diwali is supposed to vanquish darkness with light, the fate of these potters remains shadowed this year as the double whammy of inflation and technology continues to abolish the age-old tradition unless people overwhelmingly support their cause.