While the Kashmir valley is mostly talked about for the long ongoing strife or its alluring landscape, here is a story of Kashmiri Muslim potters dedicated to crafting diyas for the Hindu festival of Diwali. This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, 12 November.
With skilled precision and bare hands, an artisan expertly shapes and blends clay, creating a petite vessel featuring a sturdy base and a prominent wick holder.
Potters meticulously air-dry a line of diyas for a day or two before transferring them to a kiln for baking.
“We craft our handmade diyas with meticulous care several weeks ahead of the auspicious festival. Rushing can result in improperly shaped diyas, potentially affecting the joy of those who purchase them,” said Abdul Salam Kumar, inspecting the clay on his workshop rooftop, which is located at Ishbar Nishat, just an hour west of the famous Mughal Gardens in Srinagar.
Salam is a respected local potter. This family tradition continues with his son, Muhammad Umar Kumar, now a skilled potter himself.
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“I work tirelessly from dawn until dusk to meet the requirements of the orders,” said Muhammad Umar Kumar, a 28-year-old B.Com graduate of Gandhi Memorial College. “I am happy to see my art lighting someone’s home on the festive day. It gives me satisfaction.”
Pottery in Kashmir dates back centuries, with its origins in Neolithic settlements around 3,000-1,200 BC. Yet, as time passed and other industries advanced, the popularity of pottery declined.
The Kumar family is dedicated to reviving Kashmir’s pottery art with their diyas. “Last year, I had an order for 16,000 lamps. This time, it’s 20,000, showing growing demand,” Umar said. In the dimly lit workshop, Abdul Salam Kumar expertly shapes Diwali diyas amidst mud-covered tools.
In a simple workspace, the earthen lamps are kept alongside a calendar featuring sacred Muslim symbols like the Kaaba, Abdul Qadir Jeelani’s spiritual place, and Quranic verses.
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Salam reflected on his journey, saying, “In the past, I crafted 500-700 diyas annually, but now I make over 1,000 every day.” Placing a wooden panel of diyas in his courtyard, he added, “Our craft not only creates jobs but also fosters communal harmony among India’s diverse communities.”
Radiating tradition and warmth, sun-dried diya lamps are ready for their journey to the foundry for baking. Salam’s family crafts these lamps daily, reaching far beyond Jammu and Kashmir. These diyas cost Rs 2 to 5 to create but sell for Rs 5 to 10 each, even in other states.
“On our festivals, Hindus craft goods for us, and on their auspicious days, we reciprocate by crafting for them, fostering a bond of love and togetherness, a hallmark of our nation,” Salam said. “If we continue to embrace each other’s traditions and joyously celebrate each other’s special occasions, our country will undoubtedly prosper,” he proudly asserted.
Abdul Salam gently retrieves the newly baked lamps from the foundry, carefully using his hands and kneeling to ensure the diyas remain intact.
“I love the feeling when members of the Hindu community come to us before Diwali to take our handmade diyas to their homes for celebrations,” Salam said as he carefully packed the ready-to-go diyas into a crate. “There’s something that still keeps us connected, and that’s art,” he added with a smile.
A beautifully crafted earthen lamp prepared for sale ahead of Diwali.
Text by Mohsin Mushtaq and Ilhak Tantray. Photographs by Mohsin Mushtaq.
Mohsin Mushtaq & Ilhak Tantray are freelance writers based in Srinagar.
