Click to play videoPuri: The appliqué and terracotta artisans of Orissa who help us in making our Diwali brighter actually battle disaster on a daily basis.
They fight against poverty and they struggle against natural disasters but they never fail to provide us designer lamps every Diwali.
The famous applique crafts of Orissa are made at Pipili in the Puri district.
Though this is an age old craft, the craftsmen make them look both traditional and trendy. That is in accordance to the demand during Diwali/
An appliqué craftsman, Feeroz Khan is happy to be the creator of the joyous pieces of art for people.
“This is our tradition and we are proud of it. It gives us a great feeling when our work especially lamps made in Diwali are appreciated by all," said Khan.
Each lamp costs anything between Rupees fifteen to Rupees five hundred. They are crafted with such labour of love that sometimes it takes a full day to make them.
These lamps are in great demand in many cities and it often seems Diwali is incomplete without these lamps.
More than fifty lakh such lamps are supplied to various cities during Diwali. And for the one thousand odd appliqué artisans at Pipili it is a big task to be able to meet the demand year after year.
Terracotta artisan, Manoj Kamdi said, “We do not earn much. But we love to do this, especially during Diwali. This is our identity and we want to keep our tradition alive.”
But it is not just the appliqué artisans who are in demand during Diwali.
The terracotta artisans who make designer earthen diyas also give a unique feel to Diwali celebrations.
But more than the money they earn out of it, it's the passion to keep this art alive which keeps them at it even when the going gets tough.
It is time that during Diwali the revellers salute the spirit of these artisans.
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