Kanpur, 28 October (Hindustan Reporter). Ever since the Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh selected Gorakhpur for terracotta under ODOP (One District One Product), people have found employment opportunities in it. Now the festival of Diwali is approaching, terracotta products are being sold in the market and they are completely natural. The natural beauty of their products is attracting people. Some people of Kanpur who work in making statues etc. had ordered red clay from Gorakhpur a month ago, which is used in terracotta art.

The demand for products made from red soil of Gorakhpur has also gradually started increasing more than usual in small and big houses. Now some artisans of the city are making successful efforts to bring soil from there and manufacture products here. This Diwali has become even more attractive with new artefacts. These amazing terracotta handicrafts are adding to the decoration of small and big houses. The demand for terracotta lanterns, elephant tables and pots for planting plants to decorate homes has also increased. There is also a demand for pots for planting money plants. Many traders take terracotta artefacts and enhance its beauty by adding frills etc., which is being liked a lot. Its earthy aroma and the hard work of the artists is reflected in every artwork. Those who prepare artefacts from this clay pay more attention to special types of lamps instead of ordinary lamps. In which the demand for Stand Diya, Kalash Diya is tremendous among the outside traders. It is a different matter that lamps and artefacts made of ordinary clay do not get that much finishing, whereas finishing of items made of terracotta enhances their beauty. Regarding terracotta, Dr. SN Sunil Pandey, meteorologist at Chandrashekhar Azad University of Agricultural Technology, says that terracotta is an exceptionally eco-friendly material, as it is recyclable and long lasting. Its biggest feature is that it is 100 percent natural.

Products are prepared here

In areas like Kalyanpur, Gol Chauraha, Saket Nagar, Govind Nagar, Shyam Nagar etc. of the city, hundreds of artisans are busy creating artefacts day and night on the roadside. Although its products are a little more expensive than those made from ordinary clay, they are equally strong. Due to which it is people’s first choice. Under ODOP rules, some simple and single design lamps are being prepared in their free time following the molds given by the government, but most of the craftsmen focus on hand work. Their lamps are such that one will not have to search for a place to keep them. The craftsmen here prepare a similar stand with two dozen lamps which is used during the lighting of lamps.

Increased demand for terracotta products

Dinesh Prajapati, who runs a shop of terracotta products at Gol intersection, said on Monday that now the demand for its products is increasing in homes. Due to good finishing of the products, they do not have to be decorated with color. According to another craftsman Vineet Mandal, now orders for idols of Ganesh-Lakshmi have started coming. About one feet tall idols of Ganesha and Lakshmi are also made here. The sculptures are so attractive to look at that they seem to speak. Small idols costing Rs 200 to 500 are made by only a few craftsmen and their demand is only at the local level. Most people also add lamps to the idols to make them look more beautiful.

Rahul Dev

Cricket Jounralist at Newsdesk

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