GLOBALIZATION EFFECT: Indian Divali, Chinese Diyas!

Ferozepur, November 7, 2012:  Gone are the days when during Divali festival, homes would be illuminated with earthen diyas. 

Today people love to use fancy candles or have switched over to Chinese made attractive  designer and decorated electronic lights.  Before the introduction of “Made in China” electronic products  in India, the fingers of  “Kumhar” used to move on the “chakk” (wheels), the inherited  business, especially before the Divali festival and start of summer  season for preparation of Diyas and potters.
Kumhar or Kumbhar also known as Prajapati, means protector and preserver is a caste or community of India, mainly belonging to the  Hindu religion. Kumhar literally means potter in Indian languages, and pottery is the traditional occupation of Prajapatis besides governing the Praja (People).
The Kumhar community is found throughout India, but mainly in the Northern states of Punjab, Himachal, Western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal . Traditionally, the Kumhars have been the followers of the Dharmic religions, especially Hinduism, but many adopted Islam after the Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent.
Now the whole business seems to be stand-still and the Chinese electronic products have brought darkness in their houses and they are making both ends meet with great difficulty.  Rather, they are compelled to leave the business given to them by their ancestral.
The China made diyas and electronic lights are being sold at throw away prices.  The people’s likings have also changed with the passage of time.  One of the reason behind this seems to be the increase in prices of mustard oil and pure ghee and without any botheration, the Chinese lights have replaced the rituality and  the electronic lights can be reused if kept properly packed for the next year.  But all this has a direct affect on the income of potters who are doing this business for the last many decades. Now they are compelled to look for another business.
Chaman Lal, a person in this profession said in saddened mood, “His ‘diya’ making profession is by virtue of inheritance and with the availability of Chinese lights in the market, its sale has become a problem despite by making the colourful and attractive ‘diyas’ and keeping its price as low as Rs.2 but the people have priority for  
Chinese lights and  over the years the demand for pottery had diminished.  It is only during Divali people come to his place for buying diyas”. 

On visit to his place, Chaman Lal was working on the chakk (wheel) fitted with the electric motor to his convenience.
Another Hari Singh in this profession said in a choked voice yet managing to convey his anger and frustration, “Who cares for earthen diyas these days? People are rapidly switching over to artificial and colourful gizmos that include lights and candles. It is now very difficult for me to look after the family comfortably and left with no alternative to switch over to some other profession suitable to our class”.
And, if we do not turn other jobs like whitewashing the pucca houses in the city, it would become even difficult to sustain our family, he pointed out.
While the man has no qualms about leaving the traditional work of  making earthen diyas that symbolize the festival of light, he is happy to earn Rs.150 a day, working as daily wager in the city.