Ayodhya potters brace for record-breaking Deepotsav

Lucknow: The annual Ayodhya Deepotsav celebration is set to create a new record this year by lighting up the temple town with over 25 lakh diyas. Meanwhile, the Deepotsav continues to elevate the lives of potter families in the region.
Take the example of potters in Jaisinghpur village, where the traditional art was on the verge of decline as the number of younger members had migrated to big cities in search of jobs.But the demand for diyas on account of the Ayodhya Deepotsav has led to reverse migration.
A govt spokesperson said the transformation began in 2017, shortly after Yogi Adityanath assumed office as UP CM. One of his first initiatives was to revitalise Ayodhya, with a special focus on organising Diwali and Deepotsav celebrations to mark Lord Ram's return from exile.
Held annually at Ram Ki Paidi, the event sees millions of oil lamps, or diyas, being lit. The CM also prioritised the district's potters for diya procurement, ensuring that local artisans directly benefit from the event, and the trend continues this season too. The potters are ramping up production to meet the increased demand for diyas.
In Jaisinghpur village near Vidyakund in Ayodhya, 40 families of potters are busy making thousands of diyas (earthen lamps) for the Deepotsav festival. While Deepotsav has always brought sales, govt's push to support local potters has led to more people choosing traditional earthen diyas over electric lights.
Lakshmi Prajapati, a potter from Jaisinghpur, shared how the festival has brought new hope to her family. "The Yogi govt's initiative has brightened our home. Once we receive the order for Deepotsav, the entire family comes together to make around 35,000 diyas, which we sell for the festival," she said.
Another potter, Rakesh Prajapati, said though they haven't received a formal contract yet, they have already started making diyas based on previous years' orders. "Our income has increased since the Chief Minister's announcement," he added.
Asha, another villager, explained how the festival has revived traditional lighting. "Every year, we make 20,000 to 25,000 diyas for Deepotsav. After the festival began, people in the city now decorate their homes with diyas instead of using Chinese lights," she said.
Rajesh Prajapati emphasised the impact the event has had on their community. "Thanks to CM Yogi, our work as potters is now recognised. Although the tender hasn't been finalised yet, we've already made over 2 lakh diyas," he said.