Pottery Village Near Bangalore

    Narayanpura is a small village near Yellahanka, Bangalore. It is close to NH-44 which is the highway leading to KIAL (Bangalore Airport). Almost every other household makes clay pots and products. Here, you will find potters shaping clay by hand on traditional wooden wheels. In many parts of the world, these wooden wheels have become extinct and are replaced with electric ones.

    This photo feature documents traditional clay pot making. These photos were taken on a half a day visit to Naryanpura. While we visited, we also found households making Ganesha Idols.

    The process starts with clay which the artisans obtain from the riverbed. We were told that a tractor-load of clay costs Rs 3000/-  The clay is kneaded well, which is quite visibly an effort.

    A potter kneading clay from the river bed

    The clay is then placed on top of the wheel.

    Kneaded clay is placed on a wheel

    The potter uses a stick to make the wheel rotate fast. He has time till the wheel slows down to make as many pots as possible.

    After the wheel starts spinning, the potter brings in his experience and skill to shape the clay into a beautiful pot.

    Using hands to shape clay on a potters wheel

    Cupping hands on wet clay

    Top view of a potter starting to make a clay pot

    By simply cupping his hands, the potter creates pots of different sizes.

    Portrait of a potter and his pottery wheel

    It is mesmerising to watch the transformation of clay into something simple, yet beautiful. The potter can bring contours to the pot using simple tools.

    Top view of a potters hands

    This potter used his fingers to shape the shallow pot into a diya.

    Making a clay diya

    Although aged, the potter was expertly making diyas without a break. The countdown starts the moment the clay is wet, and the wheel starts spinning. Working with hands continuously is no easy task!

    Potter making a clay pot on a traditional wheel

    After finishing his work, the potter posed for a photo. He was visibly tired after making a lot of clay diyas!

    Portrait of an old clay pot maker at Narayanpura

    At Narayanpura, we also saw households involved in making Ganesha idols for the upcoming festival. The clay is first put into a mould and later shaped by hand.

    Clay Ganesha from a mould

    The process of shaping the Ganesha idols was mostly done by women.

    Portrait of a woman shaping a Ganesha idol by hand

    Making a clay Ganesha idol involves delicate procedures such as attaching the trunk and placing eyeballs made from beads.

    Attaching a trunk to a clay Ganesha

    Ganesha idol eyes

    Everyone, old and young, was involved in making the Ganesha idols. With only a month to go, there were large orders to fulfil.

    Family making ganeshas

    The kids happily posed for us.

    Boy holding a clay Ganesha
    A girl holds a Gowri Ganesha idol

    While it was nice to see only clay Ganesha idols, we did find a stockpile of garishly painted Ganeshas. The paint on these idols definitely did not seem environment friendly.

    Are these ganeshas environment friendly

    On the eve of Ganesha Chathuri, please take a vow to buy only environment friendly Ganesha idols. If you plan to visit Naryanpura, you can buy these idols directly from the potters. This will benefit them, so it is a good thing to do. If you intend to take photos of the potters, please do not go in large groups. Most of them work inside their houses and there may not be much space for a large group of people.