Earthen lamps, known locally in Tamil Nadu as Agal Vilakku, have been an integral part of South Indian ritual life for centuries. Crafted from pliable river clay, these small mud lamps are shaped by hand on the potter’s wheel, dried, and fired in kilns. They are indispensable during Hindu festivals such as Navaratri, Deepavali, and especially Karthigai Deepam, when homes, temples, and streets are illuminated to symbolize the triumph of light over darkness. During pujas, marriages, and temple rituals, Agal Vilakku holds sesame or ghee lamps, signifying purity, knowledge, and prosperity.
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| Clay Diya Puja lamp,Amazon.com |
Above image: Oil lamp it is believed that it dispels darkness and ignorance, and brings in good health and peace of mind. Like many festivals, the belief has been a traditional one for centuries.Many religions do use lamps-be they oil lamps or candles.......
Traditionally, thousands of rural potters depended on lamp making as a seasonal cottage industry. Families, often from hereditary potter communities, prepared stock months ahead of festival seasons. Until recently, demand was steady: every household would purchase dozens of lamps, while temples bought them in bulk for offerings and festive décor.
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| Decorated earthen lamps, .indiamart.com/ |
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| Earthen lamps .thehinduimages.com |
Today, this craft faces an uncertain future. The market has been flooded with machine-moulded lamps that are cheaper, uniform, and mass-produced, undermining handmade varieties. Rising prices and scarcity of quality clay—once sourced from local lakes and riverbeds—further strain production. Potters report that a single cartload of suitable sand or clay can cost over ₹6,000, while permissions to extract it have tightened. Additionally, some temples have restricted lamp use on their premises for safety or environmental reasons, reducing large-scale orders.
Karthigai Deepam, traditionally the most lucrative season, still offers some respite: countless lamps are lit in homes and temple courtyards, creating a spectacular glow. Yet, even this peak sees diminished sales compared to earlier decades, as urban households shift to metal, ceramic, or electric substitutes.
Safeguarding the Agal Vilakku trade demands targeted support—training, affordable raw materials, marketing, and eco-friendly branding. Beyond their utility, these humble lamps embody Tamil Nadu’s living heritage, linking faith, craft, and community through the timeless act of lighting a flame to banish darkness.
Ref::
Light dying out of lives of lamp makers,” The New Indian Express, Dec 2019
