The traditional Rajashtani earthen lamps are emerging as favourite in the market of Jagdalpur ahead of the light festival of Diwali even if the buyers have left with no other choice but to select from fewer varieties.
Rajasthani sellers have brought large quantity of traditional, colourful and artistic lamps as there was a huge demand among people of both rural and urban areas. The cost of such traditional lamps is high and the number of varieties available in the market is limited to 18.
Inspite of high cost and limited number varieties, people are however asking for it, said Gulabchandaur Rasul, who set up a shop in front of the Indira Gandhi Priyadarsini Stadium here. He has been in this business since last five years and this year he arrived here early because last year there was huge demand for his lamps.
He said the costs of the Rajasthani lamps are higher than the local lamps because of the transportation cost.“We spend money in transportation and if we don’t sell it at higher price we will not make profit, he pointed out.
Every year large numbers of businessmen also arrive here from Odisha to sell earthen lamps. They make good profit as the lamps they sale are cheap and large number of people can afford it.
Apart from traditional earthen lamps, Rasul has also brought this year small earthen podiums which people can use to plant Tulsi or Basil. Tulsi is considered to be a sacred plant and every house hold plant in their house as they consider it auspicious.
The podium has been made artistic and religious symbols have been painted around it. More and more people are visiting our shop for such podiums, he said.