Patna: Shopkeepers are busy selling clay diyas, terracotta idols, showpieces and Puja material for Diwali. Patna is bursting at its seams in the huge rush of buyers. Potters have used blazing colours on diyas of different shapes and sizes to mark the festival.
Terracotta diyas and decorative items near Patna Women's College are wooing Patnaites. Shopkeepers are busy selling clay diyas, terracotta art, puja items, artificial flowers, idols of god and goddess, lamp and torans (bandanwar) in the state capital.
Ghanshyam from Gorakhpur said for the past 10 years, he has been visiting Patna to sell terracotta diyas and artefacts near Patna Women's College. He makes teracotta diyas of Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Ganesh, diyas and in the shape of tortoise priced between Rs 40 and 600. He said: "People prefer these instead of traditional diyas. They also give priority to colourful electric lamps. This eats into our profit."He added that every year, they (diya sellers from Gorakhpur), expect sales of almost Rs 5 lakh but they end up making less as people are not ready to pay the right price.
Raghuvendra, who sells his items near the high court, said: "We have bought traditional designs of diyas, kalash, candles. Terracotta items are attracting Patnaites who are buying wall hangings, flower hangings, and mirror-crafted hangings. Terracotta handicraft belongs to Gorakhpur and it is a unique traditional art surviving from centuries. We are trying to keep alive this tradition through our art." He added: "We have bought Puja material, home decor, diyas from Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Allahabad in the range of Rs 300 to 1000," he added.
Prasad, who too hails from Gorakhpur, said pottery from that region too is famous. Earlier only cup-shaped earthen diyas were used. But now we have to design diyas in a modern way.
Shopkeepers, who came from outside to sell diyas said business has not been going good but there is hope that it will be better on Diwali. They are selling 100 tiny diyas at Rs 50 and designer diyas are available between Rs 40 and 100. Candles, kalash, lamps and potli purses are popular among women. Idols of gods and goddesses, flask pots, hanging wind chimes, Rangoli chalnees are also available which is in demand among women with other items available between Rs 35 and 3000. Idols, diyas, laughing Buddha and tortoise diyas are also in demand.
