Traditional Indian Pottery.

Welcome to the Potter's Yard. Pottery has a very ancient history in the Indian subcontinent. Evidence of pottery dates back to 7000 years before Christ. Traditionally, pottery in India is practiced by a community called Komars or Kombars, that is spread across India. The craft is in a declining trend, as the new generations of the community prefer other jobs. This is a traditional potter's factory in a village called Dora, at about 30 km from Mysore city in India. A cluster of Kombara families settled in this village practice traditional pottery as a cooperative venture. Even though electricity is available, they continue to use the traditional hand-run wheels. It is a capsule for firecrackers. They get bulk orders for this item during temple festival seasons. Water pots are hammered while fresh, with a flat wooden plank, to expand the volume, and also to protect from seepage. The dried items are stacked over a furnace for baking. The heap of pots is plastered with mud, to enhance the heat. It is cooked for about 4 hours. They make a variety of items as per orders. Garden pots, bonsai pots, water pots, flower vases, cooking vessels, cups, mugs, dustbin etc. You give a design, they will create it. Mr. Venkatesh has been working in this society for last 30 years. The society had 40 families when established in 1974, but now only 14 families are doing pottery. Pottery is no more a flourishing business. It survives, just survives. The wheels are running, but not up to their potential. It is a struggle for existence, and survival.