Prajapatis of Kawasoti busy making clay lamps for Tihar

By Meena Kandel,Kawasoti, Oct. 26: The people of the Prajapati community in Kawasoti, East Newalparasi district, are now busy making clay Palas (oil-fed lamps) for the Tihar festival.  Tihar, the second great festival of Nepali people and the festival of lights, is around the corner. 

Harikrishna Prajapati is one of the men who are busy rotating a clay-preparing wheel day and night to make more oil-fed lamps. He has also mobilised his family members and four workers to prepare the Palas so that he could make adequate Palas by the day of Laxmi Puja which falls on October 31. 

Prajapati, who learned to make Palas from his father, said, “The demand for Palas increases during the Tihar and Chhath festivals when their use is traditionally mandatory.” 

He said that the time before the Tihar and Chhath festivals and after Dashain would be the right time for them to earn more by making the clay Palas.   

Prajapati, who sold 50,000 pieces of Palas last year, said he has already made 40,000 pieces of Palas for this year. He said that he could prepare only 40,000 Palas this year because of a shortage of manpower.  For the last 25 years, Prajapati has been making clay materials commercially, giving continuity to his ancestors’ occupation.   

Prajapati, who has been making clay goods according to the season, has been bringing the Palas from other districts to meet the local demands during Tihar.

He said he had never faced a shortage of money to buy any essential goods after he took the profession of Pala making.  

According to him, he earns Rs. 600,000 annually by selling Palas and other goods made from clay.

Shriram Kumal of Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality said that , the demand for Palas is high  not only in Nawalpur district but also in other districts. Kumal said that he has been selling Palas at the rate of Rs. 5 per piece and Rs. 50 per dozen. He further said that the clay materials prepared here, including pots, bells, piggy bank box and others are sold at wholesale and retail rates from Narayangadh, Kawasoti and Dumkibas.