Boycott Chinese lights, use diyas to save potters’ community: Lalu’s Diwali appeal

Lalu Prasad Yadav appealed to the people to boycott China-made lights and decorations this Diwali and instead use diyas.

Patna, Oct 16: After the Supreme Court has banned the sale of firecrackers in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) ahead of Diwali to control pollution level, on Sunday, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav made a special appeal to all before the festival of lights.

The RJD chief asked people to boycott China-made lights and decorative items and instead use diyas (earthen lamps) to celebrate Diwali.

"By doing this we would be able to save the potters' community who are on the verge of ruin because of the advent of China-made lights and decorative items," Lalu said in Patna, Bihar.

In Bihar's capital city, Patna, ahead of Diwali, revellers in large numbers are busy buying Chinese Diwali lights ranging from Rs 120 to Rs 1,000 and above, sold in almost all the markets.

Since the last few years, China-made lights and decorative items have become very popular across Bihar and in the process people are giving a miss to otherwise beautiful, eco-friendly and affordable diyas and earthenware.

This is causing a great loss to potters, who are in the business of making diyas and other earthenware, during the Diwali season.

Diwali is the time for which potters wait for the whole year to come to earn some profit by selling diyas and decorative items in Bihar, said a potter from Patna. But because of foreign goods, we are losing our business, he lamented.

The potter added that it is sad that people don't want to buy diyas, which are not only traditional, but much cheaper than Chinese lights. One can buy around 50 diyas for just about Rs 25.

"Even kings use to illuminate their residences with diyas on occasions such as Diwali," Lalu said.

The potters of Bihar have appreciated Lalu's appeal "as it would save the life of many potter families."

"Diwali is the only time when we can earn a substantial amount. If that also goes, how will we survive?" asked another potter from Motihari.

Lalu is known to share a good rapport with the potters' community. During his tenure as the Union railway minister, the former chief minister of Bihar had made kulhars (earthen cups) mandatory for sale of tea and other beverages at stations and onboard trains.

OneIndia News