Maati Kala
Raj Prajapati from Chinhat displays huge cartons brimming with diyas, ranging in price from Rs 1 to Rs 15 for two.
“We move from one state to another throughout the honey season,” said Sabita, part of a beekeepers’ team, adding, “Wax, the by-product, is utilised in making candles and diyas. “The intricately designed ones can be reused several times,” he said. Lucknow resident Neelam said she spends six months in Kolkata every year to curate her collection of Lakshmi-Ganesh idols; the most expensive pair was Rs 4,000 (“all sold out”) and the most modest was Rs 200 a pair. “Spicy powder buknu is a distinct specialty of Kanpur, prepared with 21 spices and that is the highlight and fastest selling of all our products,” said Sachan’s son Siddharth, an HBTI graduate in food technology, serving an MNC. He added, “The overwhelming taste of the spice mix is our answer to the popular peri peri, teriyaki and other flavour boosters. ” Uttar Pradesh Mati Kala Board general manager Shishir said, “Through ODOP, we are bringing rural artisans to urban markets.”
A stall of candles and diyas made of beeswax also sells honey. Shubham from Gorakhpur shows a conch-shaped two-piece lamp that promises a dim shimmer once a glowing diya is placed within. His colourful terracotta paraphernalia comprises vases, planters, Ganpati with or without a pedestal, piggybanks, whistles and decorative items. Homemaker Rekha Tiwari used her leisure time and talent in creating beautiful toral and bandhanvaar strings for which she sources material from near and far. Kanpur’s Gitanjali Sachan is vending a variety of pickles, spices, papad, badi, mungodi, mathri, thekua, etc., all prepared by women.