Looking for the origin of earthen lamps or Diyas for Deepavali, Star of Mysore, on a rainy day, arrived at Doora, a village located 20 kms to the South of Mysuru. At Doora, we were standing right in the middle of a sea of clay pots and Diyas. This village is keeping the tradition of Diya-making alive where potters balance their lives amidst lack of business, daily livelihood requirements and competition from fancy lamps.
Looking at these potters, it is clear that the art of making the traditional clay lamps is going far away (Doora in Kannada means far away) or vanishing from Mysuru which was once known for its Diyas (Deepa in Kannada).
