As festive preparations pick up across the country, a group of youngsters in Bikaner is infusing the festival of lights with exceptional creativity and purpose. At the Divyang Seva Sansthan, situated in Chaudhari Colony within the Gangashahar area, speech and hearing-impaired students are transforming humble earthen oil lamps into vibrant works of craft. Working with brush and color, these children are turning simple clay items into finely detailed, colorful decorations.
Balancing Daily Lessons with Artistic Training
According to Kalwant Kumar, an instructor at the institution, around 60 students are enrolled at the facility. Out of the total roll, 15 children live on campus in the hostel facility, while the remaining students commute daily from various residential quarters across Bikaner city. The institute combines formal education with vocational and creative skills aligned with the interests of each child. It was under this skill-development initiative that the lamp-painting exercise commenced about a month ago.
After completing their daily academic schedule, the students dedicate two to three hours every day to decorating the lamps. Rather than applying uniform coats, each student experiments with distinct color palettes, freehand motifs, and artistic borders based on personal preference. This hands-on attention ensures that every single diya possesses an individual character and visual appeal. The decorative work remains in full swing at the centre as the festival approaches.
Twelve Thousand Finished Pieces and Inter-State Orders
Over the span of roughly one month, the students have successfully hand-painted around 12,000 clay lamps. The finished products quickly gained attention within the local community, where several residents stepped forward to purchase them. Beyond neighborhood interest, the handmade lamps have also caught the attention of distant buyers.
Recent consignments and orders have arrived from cities in Gujarat as well as Kolkata. This inter-state recognition has provided a major boost to the young artisans, who are now putting in extra effort to prepare as many lamps as possible before the celebrations conclude. Their goal is to ensure that a large number of households can illuminate their spaces with these handmade creations.
Reinvesting Sales Proceeds to Build Self-Reliance
Established in 2016, the institute has pursued a dual mandate of formal learning and livelihood empowerment for differently-abled youth. Kalwant Kumar explained that the core mission goes beyond teaching books to creating pathways toward financial independence and personal confidence. Crafting and painting festive lamps serves as a practical step toward that objective.
All revenue generated from the sale of these decorative diyas will be directed exclusively toward the welfare, daily needs, and educational facilities of the hearing and speech-impaired students residing and studying at the centre. In this way, the lamps do not merely brighten the homes of patrons during the festival; they also directly help secure the education and long-term well-being of the young creators behind them.
