Working in narrow lanes, the potters of Paharganj in Old Delhi are one of the biggest suppliers of clay diyas (lamps) to the capital. Diwali season for them starts about six months before and this period decides their earnings of the potters, who have been in the profession for generations.
Popular as Bengali tau (uncle), Dev Karan Prajapati, has been moulding earthen lamps since he was five. The third-generation potter calls the profession an addiction driven by passion, which has been providing him bread and butter for over 50 years.
"When I first sat with my father on the wheel, I felt a sudden connection with the clay and craftsmanship involved. Since since then, its been my source of income and passion," said Prajapati.
However, the profession has been witness to declining sales, and it's Diwali that brings a big chunk of their income and decides how the year will unfold.
There are a few festivals like Chhath Puja when sales increase but that is not sufficient for a family of six, he said.
Most of the potters even take up other professions after Diwali.
While some opt for travel agencies, others work in offices. "Earlier, people used to buy diyas almost daily to light them in temples or homes, but now it is only during Diwali we see increased sales," said Suresh Prajapati, another potter.
Suresh's family of seven includes two school-going children. During peak season, they too take leave from the school to help their father manufacture and pack diyas and other decorative items.
The seed for the profession in Delhi were sown after Participation, when hundreds of potters migrated from Rajasthan fearing for their lives in the region. Most of the migrants settled in Paharganj and Uttam Nagar.
"Just a few days before Diwali the demand for diyas touch thousands per day. To make sure we do not fall short of stock, we start manufacturing and storing diyas six months in advance," said Punia Prajapati, a fourth-generation potter in Uttam Nagar.
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 "Dev Karan Prajapati")
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