Mysuru: Modern technology may have introduced colourful LED lights in decorations , but this has not lessened people’s love for the charm of traditional earthen diyas, which is never more pronounced than during Diwali, the festival of lights.
Over 5,000 traditional and artistically designed colourful earthen diyas from different parts of the country, have been drawing visitors in hordes to the famed "Deepasaundarya” expo of Ramasons Kala Prathishtana here this Diwali.
Crafted by 150 families of traditional professional artistes from Jaipur, Kolkatta, Varanasi, Puducherry, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Khanapura, Gokak and other places in North Karnataka , the diyas have been adapted to the changing tastes of the modern world.
Besides single and multiple diyas with the motifs of Lord Ganesh and Goddess Lakshmi there others shaped like a peacock, swans, elephants, and even musical instruments. Also on display are mughal- style glass lanterns. hanging lamps, lampshades made of terracotta, tea lights, tea light holders, magic lamps (in which the oil is filled through a hole at the bottom, but doesn’t spill), urulis pots to hold floating lamps and more.
“We place the orders a year in advance. And despite north Karnataka being hit by heavy rain and floods, the artistes did not fail to keep their promise to provide us the diyas for the expo,” said Mr Raghu Dharmendra, curator and designer of Ramsons Prathishtana Young techies and visitors from abroad were seen picking up handmade diyas painted with eco -friendly natural colours to light up their homes and several corporate houses are buying the colourful diyas to gift their employees. “It is a pleasure to see so many varieties of diyas under one roof. And it is also good to note that the traditional earthen variety are still available,” said Ms Vijayalakshmi, a bank employee.
