In Ferozepur, four-generation potter family keeps tradition alive; spreads glow of earthen diyas
Ferozepur, November 5, 2026: The growing popularity of Chinese-made decorative lights and electronic lamps is threatening the centuries-old pottery tradition, with declining demand, rising input costs and shrinking earnings making it increasingly difficult for traditional artisans to sustain their livelihood. In Basti Bhattian Wali of Ferozepur, potter Joginder Pal and his family are striving to keep their four-generation ancestral craft alive despite mounting challenges but they are keeping the tradition alive.
Diwali was once synonymous with earthen diyas, colourful traditional lanterns and handmade clay decorations. However, changing lifestyles and the growing preference for Chinese-made lighting products, plastic items and electronic decorations have significantly reduced the demand for traditional earthen lamps, affecting families dependent on pottery.
Joginder Pal, who works alongside his wife and children, said four generations of his family had remained associated with this traditional occupation and had collectively produced lakhs of earthen lamps and other clay articles.
His craftsmanship includes small and large diyas, decorative lamps, traditional hatris, bughnis, bavas, earthen pots and several household articles. Each product reflects generations of experience and painstaking manual labour.
Recalling earlier times, he said earthen pots were commonly used for storing drinking water, while lighting mustard-oil-filled clay lamps was an integral part of Diwali celebrations. Refrigerators, water coolers, plastic containers and modern decorative products have gradually replaced many traditional clay articles. Similarly, Chinese-made lights and water-filled decorative lamps have affected the market for handmade diyas.
Rising production costs have added to the difficulties. Increased input expenses, coupled with declining demand, have reduced profit margins, making it difficult for potter families to sustain the occupation despite working long hours.
Joginder Pal said pottery was not merely a source of livelihood but his family's identity and a legacy passed down through generations. He expressed concern that the younger generation might gradually abandon the occupation if traditional artisans failed to receive public support.
He appealed to people to purchase locally made earthen diyas instead of Chinese-made and plastic decorative products this Diwali. Such purchases, he said, would help preserve traditional craftsmanship and support the livelihoods of local artisan families.
The struggle of Joginder Pal's family reflects the challenges faced by traditional artisans in preserving their ancestral skills amid changing consumer preferences.
This Diwali, let an earthen diya illuminate not just your home but also the livelihood and future of a traditional artisan family.