Let there be light: Indian clay lamps finally put out to dry after heavy rains delayed production in run-up to Diwali festival

A woman puts out earthen lamps to dry in the sun in preparation for Diwali. (Reuters)

A woman puts out earthen lamps to dry in the sun at her workshop in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh in preparation for Diwali. Earthen lamps are sold in large numbers during the Hindu festival of lights, as people use them to decorate their homes.

Heavy rains in the run-up to the annual festival have dampened the proceedings for potters in western India. In the community of Vadodara, rains have washed away large amounts of the clay mud used to make the pots.

One potter, Kanubhai Prajapati, told the Indian Express newspaper that he makes more than 5,000 earthen lamps every year. This year, however, he is not sure he will reach 1,000. The Diwali festival falls on 3 November.