Prem Khan/ Faridabad 

Aslam Hussain and his family living on Talab Road in Old Faridabad, an industrial town in Haryana’s Faridabad close to Delhi, have worked for months to make earthen lamps. This year too they are expecting a brisk sales as people are reverting to the traditional ways of celebrating Diwali, the festival of lights.

This family has been engaged in the work of making diyas for generations. 

Aslam Hussain told Awaz-the Voice that diya making has been a family vacation for centuries.

"The festival does not belong to any one religion, it is a part of the happiness of the entire society. We are proud that we are playing a small role in the happiness of Diwali.”

Aslam and his family make many kinds of diyas with prices ranging from Rs. 2 to Rs. 50.

Aslam said that the preparation for making these diyas starts two months in advance. “However, there is a lot of difference between earlier and present times. With the advent of new tools, it’s much easier to make diyas.”

He remembers how diyas were handmade on a wheel. Today the family uses a motorised wheel and it makes the task easier.

Aslam said that this art is slowly vanishing. He says one of the reasons is the air pollution created by the foundries while baking diyas. “People object to it,” he says.

Aslam’s diyas are lapped up by people in the town and villages around it. The earthen diyas made by him are not only eco-friendly but also have a unique mark of local craftsmanship.

Along with diyas, he also makes colourful decorative items that enhance the beauty of homes during Diwali.

Aslam's diya-making is also about an inclusive India where all communities live together and depend on each other for celebrating their joys. Like Afzal’s family, many Muslims are adding to the splendor of Hindu festivals through their skills in different parts of the country.