Handicrafts India

From the old times till now, the water pitchers made from mud have always been liked by people. The basic difference is that of the designs. In the earlier times, water pitchers were made beautiful with simple white paint. And now, the artisans use various colors and carvings to make them lively.

Creation of Indian pottery fell solely on the women of the tribe. Clay vessels of varied sizes and shapes stored water, grains and seeds. Clay pots for cooking were made to rest atop rocks set over open fires, and implements for eating and drinking were also made of clay. Pottery was also used during religious ceremonies.

Glazed pottery has only a few centres of production. The tradition of glazed pottery probably began under Arab influence, for it was first developed in Multan, an area which came under district Arab influence by conquest and settlement in the eight century. The glazed pottery with the white background and blue and green patterns was developed here and it then spread to other parts of India.

Each area has different styles of pottery. Each area has its own distinctive forms of water pitchers. Local traditions and the type of available clay influence the shapes and the decorative designs. The potter, Kumbhar, is an integral part of the life of the people who create different designs of pootery utensils.