Diwali’s vibrant traditions, like the skillful handcrafting of diyas, are challenged by mass-produced, profit-driven Chinese lights, laments Arindam, exclusively for Different Truths.

In a land of ancient traditions and light,
Where Diwali’s glow heralds the night,
A potter toils with skilled hands and grace,
Crafting diyas that light up every space.
 
In the heart of this tale, a potter's plight,
As he moulds each diya, day and night,
His hands bear the weight of tradition’s lore,
With sweat and tears on the earthen floor.
 
Each diya he crafts, with love and care,
A symbol of hope, a light to share,
But his profits are meagre, his efforts in vain,
In the face of imported lights, a relentless bane.
 
From a distant land, they come like a wave,
Chinese lights, with a fortune to save,
Mass-produced and shiny, they flood the bazaar,
Undercutting the potter, leaving him ajar.
 
No romance in this battle, just profits and gain,
As the Chinese lights shine, a relentless reign,
They conquer the market, with no love in sight,
While the potter’s dreams flicker, losing their light.
 
Let’s pause and ponder, as Diwali nears,
The clash of traditions, the rise of our fears,
For the potter’s labour, heritage, and skill,
Must not be overshadowed by commerce shrill.
 
In a world where profits often dictate,
Let’s cherish our roots, for tradition’s sake,
Support the potter, let his diyas shine bright,
Resist the allure of the foreign light.
 
For Diwali’s true essence is not in a race,
But the warmth of tradition, the joy of embrace,
Let’s kindle the flames of compassion and pride,
For the potter’s craft, let’s stand by his side.

Picture design by Anumita Roy

Arindam Roy

Arindam Roy has over four decades of experience in various newsrooms of renowned media houses. He is the Founder, Publishing Director, Editor-in-Chief of Different Truths, and Kavya Kumbh Publishing Consultant (KKPC). He has co-authored ten chapters in six Coffee Table Books (CTBs) of national and international repute and is the sole author of four forthcoming CTBs (Times Group). He has also published four international poetry anthologies as the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, participated in several poetry and literary festivals, and won awards and accolades. Arindam co-authored the novel Rivers Run Back with an American writer. He stays in Bangalore and Prayagraj.