As Tihar nears, Bhaktapur's potters busy making clay lamps

As Tihar approaches, Bhaktapur's potter community is busy making clay lamps, known as pala. Potters around the Bhaktapur Durbar area began making pala for Tihar, the next big festival, as soon as Dashain ended, and are now working at full capacity to meet growing demand in the market.

Because of their traditional craftsmanship and distinct identity, pala made in Bhaktapur are popular not only among residents of the Kathmandu Valley but also those from outside it. Customers travel to Bhaktapur to buy pala from districts such as Kavre and Sindhupalchok, and from cities such as Pokhara and Dharan.

This year, a single pala is selling for close to Rs 2. Potters expect prices to rise further as demand grows during Tihar. The tradition of lighting clay lamps during Tihar has continued for a long time.