Like so many other trend setting things that we see evolving around us constantly, the simple, desi and plain earthen diya – the quintessential decorative element of every Diwali -- has also undergone a complete overhaul.
With all the embellishments, the simple diya can now look like anything – from a very ornate peacock to a glittering ganesha, yummylicious cupcake to a pretty lotus, jaw dropping jhumka or a stud to an intricately carved kumkum box, a fiery diwali charkha to a vibrantly coloured decorative plate! And when these very ornately crafted diyas glow with the flicker flame, they obviously become inimitable items adding to the fiesta.
“It all depends on how far you let your imagination go and how innovatively you want to decorate your clay diya,” says Mital Lalan.
For the past 15 years, she has been giving Maduraites the cheer of the season, by brightly painting the ordinary brown diya in neon colours and other vibrant shades, or draping them in colourful zari and laces, putting beads on them and much more that describes art.
“It started as a hobby and I enjoyed making my diyas special with whatever pattern and colours I could think of,” she says. But obviously, she did not get a big market initially. Though she handcrafted each of them personally and laid out at least 500 distinctly different diyas every Diwali, not all moved fast.
“People here are very traditional and would like to stick to the simple earthen diya, she says, “but this year I am seeing a marked difference.” Many of her clients are now asking her for exclusive and exquisite diyas and even random customers are picking them up.
With people becoming more aware and willing to experiment, splurge and celebrate on festive occasions, the search for attractive elements has also perhaps upped. In recent years, designer diyas and fancy lights flooded the market but the traditional diyas are still in the reckoning. And this year in particular, they are dominating with creative tweaks in their designs.
For instance, says Mital, there is a combination of marble, different metals (copper, bronze, cast iron, silver and gold) and clay for making the diya, and LED lamps have been introduced for value addition. Crystals, pearl beads, artificial multi-coloured stones, double-colour blends, kundan or Meenakari work all add to the beauty and enhance the elegance of the product.
In a way, the designer earthen lighting fixtures are in demand with more ideas, more colours and costing more too.
Since diwali lamp lighting is the most important aspect of this festooning, the designer diyas are also available online.
But, says Mital, after outsourcing the base model from Mumbai and Kolkata she is able to sell her creations at a far more competitive rate in comparison.
She takes pride in the neatness of her detailed work with her remarkable finish and says, “Realising the flexible upkeep of these diyas, people are now going for it as they can be used for the next several years.”
In fact, that also seems to be the trend. “I love adding each year a few new lamps to previous year’s collection of fancy designer diyas, like how we do for our golu dolls during navaratri,” says Jayasri, who mostly buys the fancy diyas at pre-diwali melas organised by the Gujarati samaj and the Marwari associations in the city.
“I pick up whatever attracts me or find exclusive,” she says.
To make your home warm, happy and inviting this season, the select sellers of designer diyas in the city will spoil you for choice.
In case you want to add variety to the traditional lamps filled with ghee or mustard oil and a cloth wick and placed in rows, do a check and be willing to shell out between Rs.50 to Rs.5,000 each for a designer diya of your choice.
Dazzling Diyas
The small and simple traditional clay diya costs Rs.10 to 15 for a dozen
The painted decorative diyas cost Rs. 10 to 25 each
Diyas with Lakshmi or Ganesha idols cost Rs.50 to 150 depending on the size.
The conch shaped diyas Rs.60
Floating diyas Rs.80
The rangoli pattern diyas Rs.100 to 150
Diya lanterns Rs.150 to 300
Multi-coloured clay floral diya with beads and stone work Rs.80 to 150
The 21-diya plates depending on the metal used can cost up to Rs.450 each. The double layered plates filled with diyas range between Rs.650 to 1200
Traditional diyas that come in stone or metal holders with beautiful designs handcrafted or painted on them cost between Rs. 300 to 2,000. Those done in silver or sprinkled with gold powder cost above Rs.2,000.
