Dhubri: Pottery artisans in Asharikandi village of Dhubri district and Heerapara near Hajo in Kamrup district are working overtime to meet the demand for traditional earthen lamps ahead of Diwali and Kali Puja.The artisans are seeking to revive their age-old trade amid competition from Chinese decorative products and terracotta lamps brought from Nabadwip in West Bengal.Asharikandi, one of Assam’s prominent terracotta craft clusters, has around 160 artisan families producing nearly 15 crore earthen lamps, said Debdas Paul, a local artisan. About 500 artisans work for nearly two months to meet the seasonal demand, he said.At Heerapara village in Ramdia under Hajo, pottery-making families are also working from early morning until late at night to fulfil orders.“We are here 90 families and produced nearly 5 crore earthen lamps in one and half months time and sell them either in bulk or in wholesale to the traders,” said Bimala Barman, a traditional artisan from Heerapara.Kamala Kanta Das of Hajo said Diwali was an important source of income for traditional potter families. He expressed hope that people would continue to choose locally made lamps and support indigenous artisans.“Despite competition from inexpensive Chinese decorative products and terracotta lamps from Nabadwip, artisans in both Asharikandi and Heerapara are determined to retain their place in the festive market through their traditional craftsmanship,” Paul told TOI.The seasonal trade supports hundreds of artisan families and helps preserve Assam’s traditional terracotta and pottery heritage.
