Kashmir potter bags bulk order of earthen lamps for I-Day celebrations

𝐎𝐢𝐥 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐚𝐭 𝐙𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

SHAKEELA ANDRABI

SRINAGAR: Twenty-eight-year old Kashmiri Commerce Graduate Potter Mohammad Umar Kumar is working enthusiastically and tirelessly at his Nishat unit to meet the huge order of 5,000 to 10,000 earthen lamps that would lit under the initiative “Meri Mitti Mera Desh” in government offices to celebrate the 77th Independence day in Kashmir.
Potter Mohammad Umar, has bagged an order for 10,000 lamps from the Jammu and Kashmir administration for Independence Day celebrations. This is the biggest order, Umar has received in recent years. Last year on the eve of Deepawali, Umar received order of 20,000 earthen lamps. “My family has been doing pottery for generations and I have been doing it since childhood. Ahead of Independence Day, we received a bulk order for earthen lamps. I am very delighted to have received this order as it has generated a huge income for us,” Umar told Initially, the administration had placed an order for 5,000 lamps but then they doubled it, he added.
“We have made more than 9,000 lamps and hopefully all lamps will be ready in the next couple of days,” he added.
This “unexpected order” is what is keeping Umar’s seven-member team busy these days. Umar said, pottery art is on the decline but when the oil lamps will be lit in front of the Tricolour, it will help create awareness about it and generate a demand for earthen products.
“A potter makes gold out of clay and now authorities are working to revive this craft by launching a number of schemes. In Kashmir, we do not get such big orders except for Deepawali,” he added. The oil lamps will lit on the evening of August 13 at Zabarwan Park along the banks of the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Another potter who works with Umar, said he is very happy with the order as it will lead to motivate and attract more and more young potters for their traditional work. Officials of the Handicrafts department said, “It is very important that the government extend support to artisans. The order given to the potters is not a one-time order. We are trying to promote local souvenirs in government events and we also want that every office should proudly display the art forms of Jammu and Kashmir.” Such orders are very encouraging for the artisan community,” the officials said.