We found the time at last to visit Pottery Town during Ganesh Chathurthi, a small town made of just a few streets, where for generations of potters have been-and still are-busy at work creating some fabulous pieces of clay art. Depending on the festive seasons they create--Ganesha idols during Ganesh Chathurthi, Krishna idols during Krishna Jayanthi, Diyas(clay lamps) during Festival of Lights and Diwali season. They create mud pots, flower pots, varied idols, vases, cups etc during the non-festival times. These potters are usually comprised of family members and some are educated in English medium schools and speak decent English. Their homes are filled with clay and art pieces at various stages of creation. Some are left as clay form while others are painted and cured.
Marching of the Ganeshas :)
Ganesha everywhere!!
Ganesha clay form
One of the family members painting the Ganesha idols
Ganesha idols painted and ready to be sent to the market to be sold
One of the artisans spray painting an idol
In Bangalore, they celebrate Gowri pooja along with Ganesh Chathurthi, which is not in practice as much in Chennai(my home-town)
Lovely colors and beautiful dolls
Colorful idols...
We were very surprised at their hospitality, patience in answering our innumerable questions, even taking the time to demo a few items during their busiest season of business...Ganesh Chathurthi. Their homes were swarming with people of all walks of life, even some foreigners taking pictures, conversing with the potters and some buying Ganesh Idols too :-)
My children were saddened to learn that despite the beauty of these Ganesha clay idols, the tradition is to dissolve them in destined water bodies around the city after Ganesh Chathurthi. We, of course do not follow this tradition-the pained Ganesha idols are much too pretty to bear dissolving.
Pottery Town is a haven for photography enthusiasts, which is one of the reasons my son was interested in this visit despite the crowds that he tries to avoid usually...We are sure to be visiting the town again.
These are beautiful. The tradition of dissolving them reminds me of the sand mandalas made by Buddhist monks that are destined to be poured away when they are finished. And I completely understand your son's aversion to crowds. It's the reason I don't go into Manhattan much anymore. :o)
ReplyDeletePeace and Laughter,
Cristina
HI Cristina,
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting me..... I had to do a search on Buddhist customs to read up some more...There is a lot of Hindu influence on Buddhism and vice versa...It is an interesting research to do....Hope you and your family are having a great fall thus far...:))
Thank you
Subadra
Missed a lot of your posts since the last few months have been especially hectic... loved this post, esp since ive been wanting to go to our very own potters colony for a while.. havent yet managed to go
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