Agartala, 1st November 2026 : With Diwali just a few days away, potters in Tripura’s Unakoti district are working around the clock to meet the growing demand for traditional earthen lamps, or diyas, ahead of the festival of lights.
Artisans in the villages of Haor and Sreepur are busy producing thousands of clay lamps to meet the rising demand from households, temples and markets. As the festival approaches, the workload at pottery workshops and production centres across the villages continues to increase.
Apart from earthen lamps, the artisans are also preparing other clay products to cater to customers during the festive season.
Tapan Rudra Pal, a veteran potter from Haor village, said that the methods of pottery-making have undergone significant changes over the years. In the past, artisans used manually operated wheels rotated with the help of wooden sticks to shape clay products. Today, electric pottery wheels have largely replaced the traditional method, enabling them to produce more lamps in less time.
The shift to electric wheels has helped increase production and made it easier for artisans to meet the seasonal surge in demand.
Despite the growing popularity of modern lighting and decorative items, traditional earthen lamps continue to hold a special place in Diwali celebrations. Their religious and cultural significance remains strong, particularly during Diwali and Lakshmi Puja.
Somen Pal, a potter from Sreepur village, echoed similar sentiments, saying that the popularity of modern decorative products has not diminished people’s attachment to traditional clay lamps. According to him, demand for earthen lamps rises significantly every year before Diwali, making the festive season a crucial period for pottery-making families.
For many artisan households, the income generated from selling lamps during this period forms an important part of their annual earnings. Compared with other times of the year, the festive season provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen their livelihoods.
The preparations in Haor and Sreepur reflect the enduring connection between tradition and modernity. As Unakoti’s potters race against time to fulfil orders, their handcrafted lamps are set to illuminate homes and places of worship while helping preserve the region’s traditional pottery craft and the livelihoods of generations of artisans.
