Ban on lamps set to rob light of their life

The light is about to go out of their lives. Terracotta lamp-makers in Tamil Nadu have urged the State government to protect their livelihood, following the recent restrictions on lighting clay lamps inside temples. Thousands of small-scale industries in places including Vriddhachalam, Tiruchi and Puducherry have been hit, said V.K. Munusamy, a terracotta artist from Puducherry.

“In places like Vriddhachalam there are hundreds of units that work out of homes. In most places families are involved in making lamps. They have a huge stock of unsold lamps but are unable to sell them. Even small numbers matter for these people; they make 300 to 400 lamps a day,” he said. If the ban cannot be withdrawn, the government must ensure alternative means of livelihood for these families, he demanded.

Small-scale lamp-makers such as V. Gunasekaran of Kamanayakanpalayam in Tiruchi district are the worst-affected since they sell only to temples in nearby districts.

“My family, including my wife and parents, make one lakh lamps in 40 days. We don’t engage labourers. If we make a thousand lamps, we earn ₹250. None of my buyers in Nachalur in Karur and in Thanthonimalai are now taking lamps since they have unsold stocks. I don’t see what to do now since I don’t know any other trade. I also have a huge stock of clay,” the 39-year-old said.

At Vriddhachalam, which is a major centre like Puducherry’s Villianur, at least 300 units manufacture lamps. Once involved in making ceramic items, these had switched to terracotta since the market was better.

“At least 30% of our stock is sold in Tamil Nadu. The rest goes to Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtraand also Malaysia. We working keeping the festival of Deepavali in mind for markets in north India. There are some families that make lamps alone and they are the worst-affected,” said N. Sridhar, who runs a unit in Vriddhachalam.

Recent fire

The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department’s decision restricting the lighting of lamps on temple premises came in the wake of a major fire in the Madurai Meenakshi temple on February 2, 2018.

Many temples have since then placed large-size lamps with long wicks in which devotees can pour oil or ghee that they seek to offer.

Similarly, tall cauldrons have been kept at prominent places in temple prakarams so that devotees can pour the oil or ghee into them.