The traditional earthen lamps (diyas) are on the verge of extinction because of the tough competition by other form of illumination like electronic and electric diyas and China made lights which have flooded the market in Aligarh. These lights are available in market at very cheap rates. However, in the rural areas and remote areas the traditional diyas are still alive and people gave preference to tradition over technology.
On this Deepawali, war between tradition and modern technology is continued in large scale. But the potters who are busy in their work have not lost hope and look forward to some incentives from the government given as their business is dwindling. The potters are making diyas for the sake of tradition. However many potters young generation have denounced their old traditional business and are switching over the other jobs. Pandit Hariom Sharma, a priest of a temple told that traditional earthen diyas are facing the threat from Chinese lamp but this cottage industries of diyas still survives as Hindus especially ladies still continued to performs various ceremonies connected with the festival and puja by lighting the diyas especially in Deepawali and Nav Ratri. He said that in puja thali there is no place for electronic, electric diyas and candle. It is earthen lamp which holds away for millions of house wife’s all over the county including Aligarh.
But another picture of traditional diyas is that potters who make earthen diyas are struggling on the festival as the cost of production has gone up on the other hand the demand for diyas has fallen sharply. This is because the diyas are considered out of the date and out of the fashion for illumination and decoration.