As Diwali attracts nearer, Mohammad Umar Kumar, who’s aiming to revive the “dying” artwork of glazed pottery in Kashmir, is working passionately to ship 15,000 earthen lamps.
Kumar (27), a commerce graduate from the Ishber space of Nishat right here, says it’s a robust problem to revive the age-old craft however he isn’t giving up.
A current order for “diyas” (earthen lamps) for the competition of Diwali introduced hope in addition to cash.
“I acquired an order for 15,000 lamps for Diwali from a seller in Kulgam district. The lamps should be delivered earlier than the competition,” Kumar informed PTI.
Diwali will likely be celebrated on October 24.
Kumar stated whereas he has delivered part of the order to the seller, it’s a race in opposition to time.
“Nonetheless, I can not rush into it. That is an artwork. I’ve to ensure the product is completely superb,” he stated.
Glazed pottery, often called “Dal Gate pottery”, is exclusive to Kashmir. Initially, glazed tiles in deep inexperienced, blue, brown and ochre have been made within the valley. This craft later obtained bifurcated to tableware and vases made in purple, inexperienced and blue glazes.
Kumar’s newest order includes a course of that features giving a form to the lamps on the potter’s wheel, then leaving these to dry and eventually, clay-firing them.
He would additionally promote a few of the lamps at his store within the Hazratbal space of town. Kumar has additionally engaged his father and brother within the commerce.
The 27-year-old stated the order has been a shot within the arm for the household, which is intricately concerned within the artwork of pottery.
He stated there have been as soon as over 500 households within the metropolis engaged within the craft, which has now decreased to round 50.
“I’m attempting my finest to contain extra households and whereas I’ve succeeded to deliver again six of them, it’s a robust problem,” Kumar stated, including there ought to be help on the authorities degree.
Kumar hit the headlines final 12 months when he took upon himself to revive the “dying” artwork of glazed pottery in Kashmir after studying it from an octogenarian.
Not solely has he concerned his household within the craft, he additionally teaches the talent to a couple youths in a bid to maintain it from sliding into obscurity.
As soon as well-known and sought-after, glazed pottery, like many different artwork varieties in Kashmir, is slowly dying as not many from the brand new technology within the valley are keen to ‘get their palms soiled’.
Kumar’s household has been into pottery for a number of years now, however he took upon himself to wade right into a moderately completely different territory final 12 months to revive the glazed pottery, the artwork type misplaced to modernisation.
He manufactures varied gadgets, together with ornamental ones, and prepares the glazed color himself. He makes use of waste glass, lead in used battery cells and powdered waste copper metallic in his craft.
Kumar stated the demand for glazed pottery gadgets was so large that he was discovering it troublesome to maintain up.
“The demand is there, the market is there, however I can not alone meet it,” he stated.
Kumar stated he desires to revive this artwork to the way it was within the yesteryears.
“My aim is to have not less than one pottery merchandise in each home within the Kashmir valley.” he stated.
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