Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Colourful deepams usher in the spirit of Deepavali

Photo: K.R. Deepak

Inviting: A visitor selecting from a range of colourful designer deepams for Diwali at a shop in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. —

VISAKHAPATNAM: The effervescent spirit of the Festival of Light is aptly manifested through the earthen deepam. Reflecting a traditional design sense that is simple in concept but universal in appeal, the market is abuzz with a proliferation of clay creativity for Deepavali.

While the roadside deepams hold the traditional charm, bigger malls, gift shops and super markets have packaged them with an attractive look. Embellished with painted designs, folk motifs and graphics, and exuberant with colour, dressed up with mirrors, sequins, pearls and zari, the Diwali deepam is a creative and ingenious work of art.

“People nowadays prefer the decorated ones to the ordinary deepams as these not only brighten up the ambience but also gives a fancy look to the interiors,” says Yeshwanth of Darling’s Paradise. The shop has more than 30 varieties of tastefully decorated deepams adorning the racks. There are also diyas with zari and mirror in exuberant colours.

Dozens of deepams designed in the moulds of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi are a beckoning sight and have become immensely popular. There are the artistic ones like a hand holding the lamp or an elephant carrying a bulk of deepams on its back and deepams shaped like seashells. These can be also used as gifts for gifting friends and relatives during the festival.

Delightfully imaginative diyas with sharply cut edges embellished with cut work covers and filled with bright coloured wax are also a popular sight at the shops. Artistic are ‘fragrant’ wax and ‘pot’ deepams for the garden.

The floating deepams and candles blended with a variety of fragrance makes them wonderfully stimulating. These have become increasingly popular for their soothing and beautiful appearance.

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