Keeping darkness at bay: Meet Potters behind the 'magic lamp'

Two potters who hail from Chhattisgarh have hogged the limelight by making a unique lamp using clay. The magical lamp is truly a remarkable manifestation of art and thinking. Keeping darkness at bay these potters have designed a lamp in which flow of oil is circulated automatically.

Ambikapur / Kondagaon (Chhattisgarh): Shivamangal resident of Ara village on the border of Surguja-Balrampur district and Ashok Chakradhari, the potter who is a native of an extreme Naxal-affected Kondagaon, both have taken people by surprise by making unique lamps of clay.

The lamps made by them burns continuously for 24 hours.

The bird-shaped earthen lamps made by Shivamangal does not require oil refilling. When the oil in the lamp is burnt, it starts filling automatically. Shivamangal may never have seen the face of the school, but he uses science while making his earthen lamps which burn continuously for 24 hours. These earthen lamps work with the vacuum of air. These lamps are made in the form of a bird and are filled with an ample amount of oil that it can burn without any refiling for 24 hours. The oil drips drop by drop from the stomach of a bird made in this lamp.

Generally, this lamp is used to burn ‘akhand jyot’orunbroken flame, but to dispel the dark during the festive season, the lamp is in special demand.

Ashoka's earthen lamp can burn for 24 to 40 hours

Ashok Chakradhari lives in Kumharpara in Kondagaon. He has designed a lamp in which the flow of oil is circulated automatically. Everyone is surprised by such an automatic technique used in these earthen lamps. Due to this unique feature, the lamp can burn continuously for 24 to 40 hours. It is nothing short of a 'magic lamp' for the people. His work and designs hold an essence which is beyond describable.

magic lamp

Shivamangal's artwork

Shivamangal of Ara village makes not only earthen lamps but also many attractive objects by doing exemplary artworks with clay.

While talking to ETV Bharat, Shivamangal told that he has learnt this art of clay from his ancestors. Apart from making these exquisite earthen lamps, he makes many objects including earthen musical instruments, beautiful artwork, animal figures, which allure people.

Shivmangal has exhibited his artworks in many cities of the country. This not only promotes his art but also helps him earn a good income.

Ashok is also giving employment to others

Ashok also creates vibrant sculptures by giving shape to unbaked clay. By making clay sculptures, daily use items, decorative items, over the years he has been providing employment to the people of the region. Ashok told that during the exhibition in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 35 years ago, a craftsman kept something similar in the exhibition, he had just a glance over it and inspired by that he made this lamp.

magic lamp

ETV Bharat also makes a humble appeal to the people that, be it Diwali or any other festival of any kind, use as many earthen lamps as possible made by the local potters, to improve their economic condition.