Details
Raju Vernekar
vernekar.raj@gmail.com
“Due to the corona virus-induced prolonged lockdown, the traders in Kumbharwada, the largest pottery market in India, located in North Central Mumbai are witnessing a slump in the sale of traditional earthen lamps (Diyas) used during Diwali, the festival of lights, by households in the country.”
“The traders in Kumbharwada (potters’ colony) have been supplying Diyas, not only to different parts of India but have also been exporting earthen lamps to UK, China, USA, Canada, and UAE. They have been doing this business, for generations after their forefathers migrated from Gujarat to Mumbai. However this year, the sale is reduced, due to the number of restrictions during a lockdown.”
“Over 1400 families of potters, residing in houses, with workshops on the ground floor and residential space above, located on about 22 acres of land, are engaged in the diya-making business. The Diya selling business is carried out by the people from all the communities, Hindu and Muslim in particular.”
“The Kumbharwada is made up of five lanes, dotted with over 120 kilns. The potters here still make use of traditional methods of pottery. They use indigenous red and grey clay and bake the moulds in traditional kilns. They use waste forms and sheets of cardboards to light up the kilns. Some of the local women areas are also involved in the job, who make Diyas at their home and sell them to the traders.”
“The kiln owners prepare clay products in various shapes, sizes, and designs. The whole year, they prepare earthen pots, bowls, and flower vases. However, during festivals, they make traditional pots. For example, they make decorative pots during Navaratri (a Hindu festival during which the Goddess Durga is worshipped) and diyas during Diwali. Some potters also make Ganesh idols, during the Ganesh festival (the festival of the Elephant-headed god).”
“The government has banned the plastic diyas that had dominated the Diwali market until a few years ago. Last year, these potters had good scope to sell their hand-made products without any competition coming from Chinese diyas. However more than any competition, the corona virus has spelled the doom. Earlier, simple Diyas, painted with ‘Gerua’ color were sold. However, now, they have been replaced with designers and colorful diyas, like the peacock and Trishul shaped diyas.”
“Speaking to “KHL”, Dhansukh Parmar, a trader from Kumbharwada said that this year, the sale of Diyas has come down by nearly 50 percent. The production was reduced since artisans were not available during the lockdown. Besides, there is a reduction in the number of local vendors who used to buy the lamps from us. Those who sell the lamps and other decorative material, in make-shift roadside stalls, boost the sale sizably. However this year they are uncertain whether or not they will be allowed to set up their stalls by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). So far few buyers have collected their stock. As such we are going to request Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar to allow roadside hawkers to carry out their trade. We can recover the amount invested only if local roadside hawkers boost up the sale. The wholesale price of the lamps ranges from Re one to Rs 100 per piece depending upon the size, design, and colour of the lamp. Then they are sold at much higher rates in the retail market.”
“Speaking to “KHL”, another trader Abbas Galwani said that “ This entire year has been dry since we could not do any business during Dahi Handi (a team sport during the Hindu festival Gokulashtasmi, celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Krishna), Ganeshotsav and Navratri. Now in Diwali to the atmosphere is not encouraging. By now the buyers from some cities like Pune and Nashik have collected their stocks. The demand from other cities is low. The sale has been reduced by 40 percent. We have spent over Rs 25 lakh on material, labor, packaging, etc. Now the only option is to sell the lamps at reduced rates.”
“Speaking to “KHL”, Baburao Mane, former MLA, and the local leader said that after a long time, the buyers’ vehicles were recently seen in Kumbharwada. But they were limited, compared to earlier when the buyers used to make a beeline to Dharavi every year. Let us hope that the situation improves even now.”
““Kumbharwada” is one of the oldest settlements in Dharavi, built by migrants from Gujarat in the second half of the 19th Century. In the small gaps between their houses, artisans throw and fire pots of all shapes and sizes, from small cups for yoghurt to diya candles, larger water pots or ornamental vases. In the 1800s, Mumbai’s municipal authorities moved the potters, who had previously settled in south Mumbai, to Dharavi. It was a no-man’s land between two railway lines, dotted with a few villages, which have since expanded into one large settlement.”
“During Diwali, the whole area is covered by the smoke emitted by pottery kilns in Dharavi. Each individual house has its own pottery kiln and a shop facing the road ahead of the house. The “Kumbharwada” comprises skilled potter families manufacturing of clay pots a tradition handed down from generations. By and large the potter joint family has about 6-8 members residing in a shanty made of brick and cement walls and corrugated sheet roofs tops.”
