Dhanbad potters are rushing to dry, pack and move their Diwali stock to safer locations as a forecast of rain over the next two to three days threatens earthen lamps, toys, idols and household earnings in Kumhar Patti.
Artisans and their family members used Wednesday morning’s sunshine to spread freshly made clay products across rooftops and open spaces. Finished items were then packed and shifted indoors or to other protected areas in an effort to limit possible damage from rain.
For the potter families of Kumhar Patti, Diwali is the most important business period of the year. Weeks of work go into preparing diyas, earthen toys, miniature idols and decorative products for sale in local markets. The products must be dried before they can be safely stored, transported and sold.
Aarti Kumari, a member of a potter family, said she and her two siblings were packing dried clay toys on the rooftop to avoid difficulties if rain arrived. The families are using every available hour of sunshine to complete the drying process and secure products that are ready for the market.
Local potter Rajendra Pandit said rain could damage finished goods and wipe out the returns from weeks of labour just before the festival. The artisans said adverse weather could disrupt their preparations, delay the supply of goods to markets and reduce the time available for selling their seasonal stock.
The risk is particularly significant because the products are made from clay and remain vulnerable until they are properly dried and stored. Damage to the stock would affect not only individual artisans but also household income during the season on which these families depend most heavily.
The situation also highlights the exposure of traditional urban livelihoods to short-term weather changes. Potters working in open spaces and on rooftops have limited control over drying conditions, while their production and sales schedules are closely tied to festival demand.
The families are now waiting for clearer weather while continuing to move dried products away from exposed areas. Their immediate priority is to protect the stock already prepared and supply diyas, toys and idols to local markets before Diwali.
