Prajapatis busy making clay lamps for Tihar [Photo Feature]

KATHMANDU: Tihar, the festival of lights, is less than a fortnight away.

Though Dashain festival ended a few days ago only, people have already begun preparing for the festival. Florists are reaching farms across the country to ensure a sufficient supply of marigold and makhmali (globe amaranth) flowers for the festival.

Similarly, potters are racing against time to make clay lamps. Clay lamps are in high demand during Tihar as people illuminate their homes during the festival.

Pottery is the ancestral occupation of the Prajapati community of Bhaktapur. Members of the Prajapati community in pottery square and other areas in Bhaktapur are busy making clay lamps. They can be seen mixing clay, spinning pottery wheels, preparing clay lamps and other pottery wares, coloring them, and leaving them under the sun to dry.

Potters of Bhaktapur meet most of the demand for clay lamps and pottery wares in Kathmandu Valley.