Srinagar: This Diwali, 15,000 diyas (earthen lamps) produced by Kashmiri artisans are going to enlighten the houses in major cities of India.
Mohd. Umar Kumar, 27, a potter by profession had received the major manufacturing order of 15,000 pieces of diyas this year from G.M. Kumar, a whole sale dealer based in Kulgam district of southern Kashmir, who supplied them across India.
“This Diwali, I comparatively received a good order than previous year’s 700-800 pieces. It was good business and therefore I, distributed 200 pieces free of cost as thanks-giving,” Umar told Kashmir Images.
Diwali, one of the most grandiose Hindu festivals celebrated during the month of Kartik, is to be observed on 24th October this year.
Umar, a young entrepreneur, did his graduation from Gandhi Memorial College, Srinagar in 2019 and decided to concentrate on his ancestral art of pottery.
Residing adjacent to famous Dal Lake in Ishber Nishat area of Srinagar, Umar’s family has been into pottery since many decades. They supply earthenware products to around 20 shopkeepers helping them earn livelihood.
“We don’t only think about ourselves, if we will stop doing pottery, 20 shopkeepers will lose source of livelihood,” says Mohd. Salaam Kumar, Umar’s father.
With the advent of plastic and other materials, there has been a decline in demand of earthenware forcing many potters to look for alternate jobs thus decreasing the manufacturing rate.
“After my graduation, due to unemployment, I decided to continue my family business of pottery,” said Umar, adding, “We have many art forms in Kashmir, we should rejuvenate them to fight unemployment.”
