In Indian mythology, Brahma, the Creator of the Universe, made a clay model of man into which he breathed life.  The Indian potter is also known as Prajapati, the creator of man.  Kachchh’s Kumbhar community of potters have a strong religious connection to their work.  They believe that the god Shankar has blessed them with protective fire and work that will always be enough to sustain their families.

In Kachchh, the Kumbhar community moulds local clay into countless forms of decorative earthenware.  They craft a wide variety of vessels such as matka for water storage, keetli to hold tea, and kulada to keep buttermilk.  The variety of pottery and ornamental design is as diverse as the numerous communities which call Kachchh their home.

Kumbhar women use red, black, and white clay paints to decorate each piece of pottery with distinct community-specific designs.  For example, they paint scorpion emblems for pottery used by the Rabari community of nomadic sheep and goat herders: for Kachchh’s Jat community, they paint replications of elaborate embroideries.

Clay is collected from the banks of local lakes.  Artisans transport the clay to their village by tractor or donkey cart.  There, they beat the hard lumps of clay into a fine powder.  This clay powder is mixed with water and kneaded into elastic dough.  The artisans sit at their potter’s wheel and as the wheel spins, they give shape to the dough, turning it into a vessel.  Once the potter has perfected the pot’s shape, he removes it from the wheel and sets it in the sun to dry. Finally, the vessels are inverted and piled into a kiln. They are fired for 14-15 hours.  After firing, the pots and ready for use.

The Indian potter is known as Prajapati, the creator of man.

For more information about Kachchh craft traditions, livelihoods,challenges and opportunities, read about KHAMIR's impact or hear craft stories from Kachchh artisans.