With the festival of lights round the corner, it is time for potters in every area to set up make-shift stalls for earthen diyas (lamps). Wholesalers in Bangalore usually do good business during this season as there is a lot of demand for plain diyas. “Though customers get attracted to decorative diyas, plain ones are in demand,” said Ramesh, who has put up a stall on 100 feet Road, Indiranagar.
“I start preparing for the festival well in advance. We have our main shop near CMH road. This is just a makeshift stall put up specially for the festival,” Ramesh said, and added, “I have been living with these diyas since I was a child. I started helping my parents when I was 15 years old. Today I run the business along with my brother.
Though I am a graduate and work as a sales man in an Auto showroom, I sell diyas on Diwali to carry forward our family tradition. Every year I take leave for 7 days to set up the stall as it is our family business,” he added.
Jayamma from Tavarekere has been in to the business of selling diyas for the past 20 years. “This business was started by my husband. Since he is no more, I look after the business now. I usually set up a small stall next to my shop where I keep 15,000 diyas for sale,” she said.
Shekar, who was busy painting diyas at his stall in Jayanagar has at least 30,000 diyas on display. “I have been running this business for the past 25 years. I usually get ready 15 days before Diwali with 100 varieties of mud diyas consisting of plain diyas and decorative pieces,” said Shekar. “Plain diyas are more in demand than the painted ones. If you go around the complex here, you can only find mud diyas and everything will be sold before Karthika maasa,” he said. According to Shekar, at least 90 lakh diyas will be sold in the city during the Diwali season.
Ramesh sells diyas which ranges from Rs 2 to Rs 450. “Floating diyas are quite popular. Though there are people who light candles to save oil, a lot of people still follow the custom of lighting traditional diyas,” he said. Ramesh also has small statues of Ganesha and Lakshmi at his stall.
“Usually North Indians buy these idols during Diwali time,” he said.