Customised wooden lanterns create a buzz in the market this Diwali festival

PUNE: Like every year, this year too make your Diwali shopping memorable with wooden lanterns. You can get wooden lanterns made as per your specifications and choice. The designer wooden lanterns are the latest craze in the market this year and Bohri Ali is all abuzz with the innovative lanterns. 

The lanterns which cost you Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 are made as per customers’ order. 

Also, there are jute, plastic and China-made lanterns.

The jute, wood and paper lanterns are cheaper than the plastic and China-made ones. Also, the eco-friendly lanterns are available in huge numbers in most shops.

Vishnu Badhai, who is into making and selling any decorative item made from plywood on the spot from last 12 years, said, “We make decorations from MDF ply. For Diwali we make lanterns and miniature forts, during the Ganesh festival we make makhars and so on.”

“The ply made lanterns are all above 6 inches and they are made according to the customer’s preferences. That means if a customer wants some different kind of art to be carved onto the lantern then we make it accordingly and it also comes as foldable type. These start from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. In fact, after the plastic ban, the demand for lanterns made from plywood has increased,” Badhai added.

Ramkrishna Mundade, a seller of lanterns at Bohri Ali, said, “This year we have lanterns made from wood and it is in high demand more than jute and paper ones. Wooden lanterns start from the range of Rs 100 to Rs 550. Along with the wooden ones, there is also demand for jute and paper lanterns which are available from Rs 100 to Rs 400.”

There are other jute lanterns sellers who manufacture it at their residence and then sell it on the roadside at Bohri Ali. Amit Chavan, who sells jute lanterns on the roadside, said, “We start manufacturing these jute lanterns two months ago at our residence and before Diwali, we start selling it at Bohri Ali. Women self-help groups and homemakers join us to make these lanterns and we pay them according to the work order. These lanterns are available in the range of Rs 300 to Rs 1,000.”

Santosh Salunkhe, another jute lantern seller, said, “We manufacture jute lanterns at our residence and then sell at Bohri Ali. Along with lanterns we also make and sell jute and foam-made swastika which are for Rs 500 each.”

There are also diyas or floating candles which are available in various designs and shapes. Rakesh Agarwal, a seller of diyas and floating candles, said, “This year there are floating diyas or candles available in metal with ghungroos and diamonds attached which gives a nice look to these floating candles or diyas. Along with it there are LED diyas and water-floating diyas which is a new item this Diwali.”