LUCKNOW/GORAKHPUR, Oct. 17 -- As Diwali nears, Gorakhpur's Kumhar Gali buzzes with spinning pottery wheels and the scent of wet clay, while Lucknow's markets overflow with shoppers hunting for idols. Artisans craft earthen lamps, pots, and Laxmi-Ganesh figures in Gorakhpur, and from Bhootnath to Lakdamandi, colourful terracotta creations, from tiny figurines to towering idols, catch buyers' eyes. The Swadeshi campaign has rekindled interest in traditional crafts, and terracotta items are witnessing a surge in demand.

In Lucknow, shoppers navigate bustling markets crowded with terracotta idols ranging from 1-inch figures to 18-foot statues. Artisans display clay, cow dung, silver, and gold creations, but terracotta is the unmistakable fav...