Diwali, Shyama Puja drive seasonal surge for Kurigram potters

Artisans in the traditional potters' quarter of Chandrakhana Kumarpara in Phulbari upazila are working around the clock to meet soaring seasonal demand for earthen lamps (diyari) ahead of Diwali and Shyama Puja.
Entire families, including men, women, and children, have joined the production effort, preparing clay, shaping lamps on potter's wheels, and drying the finished products to illuminate homes and worship pavilions alongside modern electric lighting.
Beyond Phulbari, local products are being distributed to neighbouring markets including Balarhat, Gangahat, Kharibari, and Newashi, as well as Borobari and Noyarhat in Lalmonirhat district and Gagla Bazar in Nageshwari upazila.
Bishnu Chandra Pal and his wife Tumpa Rani Pal are among those completing major seasonal orders, targeting a total production of 20,000 lamps after nearly two weeks of labor. They spent Tk4,000 for clay, fuel, and materials for per 20,000 unit batch and sell them at Tk50 per 100 pieces.
Other local potters, including Tapas Kumar Pal, Ananda Kumar Pal, and Beren Chandra Pal, have set production goals ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 lamps each.
Despite the seasonal surge, local potters express growing concern over the long-term viability of their craft. While raw material costs, particularly for clay and fuel, have risen sharply, wholesale selling prices have failed to keep pace, reducing earnings well below levels seen two decades ago.
Around 100 families in Chandrakhana Kumarpara depend on pottery as their primary source of income. Once festival demand subsides, artisans will return to manufacturing everyday earthen cookware and household utensils. Local community leaders confirmed that Shyama Puja will be celebrated on the new moon night of 8 November.
"Demand for traditional earthen lamps rises significantly every year ahead of Shyama Puja and Diwali, as devotees illuminate temples, puja pavilions, and homes," noted Kartik Chandra Sarkar, president of the Phulbari upazila branch of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, and Sunil Chandra Roy, president of the local Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council.
While the festival brings a temporary economic lift, potters emphasize that sustained institutional support and fair pricing are needed to preserve the centuries-old tradition against modern market pressures.