History of Pottery in Indian Villages The history of pottery in Indian villages dates back to the earliest civilisation of India, the Indus Valley civilisation. Many wonderful pieces of pottery have been found from the excavation of the Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro cities. Types of Pottery in Indian Villages Potteries can be both handmade and wheel-made, which is practised all over India. There are mainly 2 types of pottery found in the Indian villages namely the ‘Unglazed Pottery’ and ‘Glazed Pottery’. Apart from the unglazed and glazed pottery, there are also a few other types of pottery produced in the villages of India. The major types of pottery in Indian villages include the common earthenware, Kulhar (cup-like container), lamps for Diwali, toys for Dussehra, pots for seedling at Makar Sankranti, painted pots for marriages, etc. Pottery of North Indian Villages The villages of Jammu and Kashmir are famous for producing quality earthenware of ordinary clay, with a glaze-like surface. The villages of Uttar Pradesh in India are well known for making some of the finest, most decorative and fine black clay pottery items. The other important places for pottery in Uttar Pradesh include Meerut, Hapur, Chinhat and Mansalia. The villages in these places are famous for making ordinary domestic articles and glazed items. Meerut and Jhajjar are famous for making slim necked water containers called Surahis. Pottery of East Indian Villages The people in Sunderban area make Dakshinirai pots, which are round with an edging running along the mouth signifying a crown. The people also worship these pots as the God, who will protect them from tigers. Pottery of West Indian Villages The villages of Gujarat are famous for making items using a mixture of white and black pottery. The villagers make designs by using dots, zigzag stripes and diagonals and the floral and animal patterns are occasionally used. Villages in Kutch and Saurashtra in Gujarat are quite famous for their beautiful earthenware. Kutch is famous for pots, terracotta horses and elephants. On the other hand, earthenware made in the villages of Goa has a charm of its own. Pottery of South Indian Villages Vellore is famous for black and red wares and Usilampatti in Madurai district is also famous for Black Pottery. However, the Karigari pottery in South Arcot of Tamil Nadu is the most famous form of pottery in south Indian villages. Khanapur in Belgaum district of Karnataka is also quite popular for making large sized containers and jars for storage and preservation. The villages of Tamil Nadu are also quite famous for the figures of the Deity. The figures are huge and they are found standing guard at the entrances of villages protecting the insiders from evil spirits. Pottery in Indian Villages is one of the most ancient and popular art forms of Indian village. Pottery in Indian villages has been in existence since the Indus Valley Civilisation and is still practised in most of the Indian villages. |