Manamadurai potters balance high demand with restrictions on extraction of clay

SIVAGANGA As Karthigai Deepam approaches, potters at Manamadurai in Sivaganga district are working at a feverish pace. From morning till night, they spin their pottery wheel to produce millions of small earthen lamps, as this is the most important time of the year for them to make money. Nevertheless, even with the high demand for lamps, the potters face a serious problem because authorities have denied them permission to take clay from local water bodies.

For many years, the potters of Manamadurai have used soil from Vaigai River and local tanks to make earthen lamps. Now, the new rules prevent them from digging clay in traditional areas. Because of this, they struggle to find enough raw material while trying to complete large orders for the festival.

“We work day and night with very little sleep to complete orders from all over the State,” says Ganesan, a local potter. “It is hard to work when we cannot get clay. In the past, our families took clay from local water sources without hurting the environment.