Potters busy making clay lamps for Tihar

By Bijay Sah, Siraj Khan,Dhalkebar, Nepalgunj, Oct. 14: As the festivals of Tihar and Chhath draw near, members of the Kumhar (potter) community in Ward No.9 of Chhireshwarnath Municipality, Ichhapur, Dhanusha, are busy making earthen lamps and clay pots. 

During these festivals, the demand for earthen lamps (diyo), pitchers (kalash), jars (ghaila), and four-faced lamps (chaumukhe diyo) rises sharply, keeping them occupied from early morning until late at night.

Members of local Kumhar families are now devoting all their time to making these clay items. As demand increases with the approach of the festivals, they hardly have any time for other work. 

Around 50 Kumhar families live in Ichhapur village, and all of them are currently busy producing pottery.

Ramratan Pandit of Ichhapur said that he started making earthen lamps and pots about two weeks ago. He said that the clay used for pottery is not easily available everywhere, forcing them to bring it from distant places.

He said, “About two weeks ago, we brought good-quality clay from a place called Sarabe. Such clay is not available nearby, so we have to buy and transport it from afar.”

 According to him, without good-quality clay, it is impossible to make durable pots, so they have to collect the clay before the festive season begins.

Despite the widespread use of electric decorative lights, he said that the demand for earthen lamps has not decreased. 

Likewise, Shiv Narayan Pandit’s family from the same village is also busy making festival-oriented pottery. According to him, they can earn around Rs. 40,000 to 45,000 by selling these items during Tihar and Chhath, after deducting expenses. 

Meanwhile, as Tihar approaches, the potter community in Banke is busy preparing clay lamps and other earthenware utensils. The demand for clay lamps soars during major festivals like Tihar and Chhath, keeping potters from the Kumal community occupied with their craft.

Ramesh Kumal, a potter from Nepalgunj-3, shared that while the demand for clay utensils has decreased due to modern alternatives, there remains a strong need for traditional items like lamps and bhurkis. He mentioned that the sale of clay lamps is especially high during Tihar, with some potters unable to meet the full demand. Ramesh has been preparing to meet the festival’s needs in advance, selling each diyo for two rupees and expecting to sell over 30,000 diyos during Tihar alone.

Dinesh Kumal, another potter from Nepalgunj-13, remarked that despite the difficulties in sustaining a living from this profession, he continues the work of his ancestors. While many younger people have moved away from this traditional craft, Dinesh and others continue to produce the clay items central to local festivals.

During Tihar, Kumal potters sell their wares at various local markets, including Sadar Line, Triveni Mod, and Tribhuvan Chowk, with some even selling directly from their homes in Nepalgunj. The sale of earthenware continues year-round at Tribhuvan Chowk.