Thane: Making lanterns, a family business

Nana, an autorickshaw driver by the day, works on lanterns for 15 days between Dussehra and Diwali. “Only the metal frame of the lanterns is made in Airoli and the painters who write on them are outsiders. Everything else, from cutting the cloth to sewing it around the frames, and decorating the lantern, is done by the family,” he said.

The Phadtares, originally from Saswad in Pune, sell their lanterns in Thane, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and as far as Pune and Satara. “We start taking orders from Dussehra and it continues till our stock lasts. On an average, we make 100 big lanterns every year… with making two per day on an average,” Nana said. The family earns a profit of 15 per cent from the lanterns, which they sell for Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000.

“It is not about the money. We all have our day jobs. It is about doing something as a family and creating a brand that our children will take forward. Earlier, we used to work on the roads all night. Now, at least we have a space through the day as well,” said Prabhu, Tarabai’s second son. Abhishek (19), Nana’s son and a third generation lantern-maker, said: “It is almost like an extended family picnic. All the siblings work at the same time. But we have to work properly, or we get scolded.”

Nana said: “We do make flex and lanterns of other materials but the original traditional lantern is made of cloth. We buy different colours, but this year, orange and its shades are in demand. These lanterns carry the essence of Diwali for us.”