Diwali diyas: stylish new lamps throng markets

Hyderabad, Oct 27 (INN): With Diwali, the Festival of Lights, round the corner, the rush to buy earthen lamps has picked up. People from various sections are being seen, thronging markets to find the best possible lamps and diyas, to illuminate their homes. With the passage of time, people are looking at ways to combine the traditional celebrations with modernity and this is reflected in the new designs of diyas being used to adorn homes. Sensing the peoples requirements, even the potters have shifted from the traditional round saucer-shaped diyas to produce these lamps which not only look beautiful but also beatify the homes.

These potters and traders vie with each other to bring out curiously shaped diyas and hence attract customers. Potters from across the country are now sending their diyas to the city and small time traders have set up shops in various places across the city. One of the diya seller from Rajasthan, Lakshman, who displayed his diyas on Habsiguda Road in the city, says, 'I have imported lamps from various parts of the country like Kolkata, Gujarat, Rajasthan.'

Heart diyas (earthen lamps shaped like a heart), leaf-shaped diyas and Ganesha diyas (earthen lamps shaped like Ganesha idol) are the most preferred, even though there are over a hundred different shapes on sale at Lakshmans diya stall. Lakshmans lamps are usually sold for Rs 25-35 a dozen. He expressed his happiness with the good response shown for these curiously shaped imported diyas. Some customers opt to buy the heart-shaped diyas, some the leave-shaped ones while some prefer the diyas shaped like a Ganesh idol. He even has puja items at his small stall.

A B Sc student Jyothi said, 'I like these lamps very much, we light up on the occasion of Diwali festival, all diyas in various shapes and designs are pleasing to eyes. While I used to myself make the Diyas, now time has changed. I am going to buy 50-60 Diyas for this Diwali festival to illuminate the house.

Another customer, Venkateswar Rao, who is wondering to see the new shapes of Diyas coming in the market says, 'time has changed in fast growing world, such type of lamps were not available earlier, only a simple type of Diyas used to be seen. The lamps are lighted up to be off the darkness on that occasion, the new designs of the lamps certainly good for this generation.' He added that he plans to buy around 70 diyas to illuminate his home and celebrate Diwali not only with lights, but also in style.