Early Times Report
Ayodhya, Oct 16: Since Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched Deepotsav in 2017, the festival has not only illuminated Ayodhya but also brightened the lives of local potter families. Once compelled to migrate for work, many youths are now self-reliant, reviving the city’s traditional clay artistry. The celebration has become a powerful symbol of cultural pride and economic revival.
This year, Ayodhya is poised to set a new record by lighting 26,11,101 lamps during the ninth Deepotsav. Under the Chief Minister’s direction, preparations are in full swing, with students, officials, and volunteers from Avadh University working tirelessly to make the festival another historic spectacle.
Brij Kishore Prajapati, a potter from Jaisinghpur village, said his family has been making diyas every year since the launch of Deepotsav. This time, they have received an order for two lakh diyas. “The Deepotsav tradition started by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has given families like ours steady employment. Today, we are self-reliant,” he said with pride.
Potters are abandoning traditional methods and using modern electric wheels. This has not only increased production, but also improved the quality of the diyas. Over 40 potter families in Jaisinghpur village are working day and night to make clay diyas for the festival.
Before 2017, these potters struggled to make ends meet. Their lives have completely changed since Deepotsav celebrations began in Ayodhya. Previously, these families earned 20,000 to 25,000 rupees a month, but now, during the festival alone, they earn lakhs of rupees. |
