Berhampur: Every Diwali, Biripur helps Odisha light up. But not this year. This potter-dominated village in Ganjam district, which makes earthen lamps (diyas) ahead of Diwali, wears a deserted and gloomy look this year after Cyclone Arnab washed away thousands of diyas they made.Around 100 families from the village make earthen lamps. When the wrath of Cyclone Arnab struck, Rushikulya River overflowed. “We made several diyas to meet festive demand, but the flood destroyed all our stocks and damaged our workshops when the water gushed into our homes,” said 59-year-old resident Budhia Muduli.Locals said the surge caught them completely off guard. “We didn’t even have time to shift the diyas and other earthen items as the floodwaters suddenly surged into the village on the night of Oct 28,” said Manoj Muduli (25). His father, Rajendra Muduli, added that the flood ruined the potter’s wheel in his workshop, bringing traditional work to a halt.Although the floodwaters have receded, potters cannot make fresh diyas because their workshops are damaged and they lack suitable black soil. “This year, we will celebrate a dark Diwali as the flood has snatched away all our cheers,” said Basudev Muduli, another local potter.These families, belonging to the Kumbhara community in Karapada panchayat, rely heavily on Diwali for their livelihoods, earning a significant portion of their annual income selling diyas during the festival of lights. “We craft anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 diyas ahead of Diwali,” Budhia said.Preparations for the festival typically begin a month in advance, with artisans procuring specific black soil and firewood from various locations. “Almost all our stocks were destroyed when our homes submerged under three to four feet of water,” Basudev said.