“Every Diwali, we make Lakshmi Puja idols, different kinds of kalashas and clay diyas. Pottery has been our ancestral work. We learnt this craft from our elders, and now our children are growing up watching us make these things, just as we did when we were young.

Once the idols and pots are ready, we sit together to paint them. People buy them for their homes, puja rooms and Diwali celebrations. Some also give them to their children as gifts.

Diwali is our busiest time of the year. We sell most of our pottery during these few weeks, and the money we earn helps us run our household for the rest of the year. That is why we look forward to this season every year.

Things are also different now. There are so many factory-made decorations, plastic items and electric lights in the market. They are often cheaper, and it has become difficult for us to compete with them.

Still, we continue making pottery. This is the work our family has been doing for generations, and it is how we earn our living. When someone takes home a Lakshmi idol, a kalasha or a diya we have made, we feel happy. After spending hours making and painting these pieces, it feels good to know that our work will become part of someone’s Diwali celebrations.

We hope people will continue choosing handmade pottery for Diwali. When you buy from local artisans, you are helping a family earn through their own work and supporting a craft that has been passed down through generations. It also gives our children a chance to learn this work and carry it forward.”