Introducing the world to a community which has been existing for over a hundred years is the need of the hour primarily because, the cultural sonnets of the past build a beautiful song of the future; these are half-sung sonnets of Dharavi - Mumbai’s largest slum which has introduced me to the pottery village of India; Kumbharwada, a song unsung.
The name Kumbharwada comes from the name ‘Kumbhar’- potter and ‘Wada’ - Colony. It is a vast 12-acre space that has dedicated itself to the heart and soul of pottery. No other business or venture is as expansive in this arena as much as this one.
Despite being a 100-year-old settlement, Kumbharwada has managed to extend the soul of pottery in its purest form.
Kumbharwada, located in Dharavi, Mumbai is a community of potters who have been honing their skills for generations. Immigrants from Saurashtra (Gujarat) were potters who graced their presence in Mumbai along with their age-old occupation of pottery. Goods that are made by this community are not only exported to local markets and around India but also across seas to Germany, Japan and other countries.
The prime example of the ‘Make-in-India movement’ is the way kumbharwada operates since the people make their livelihood out of their skill and refuse to depend upon any employer or employment.
The magic of these hands creates not one or hundred but thousands of clay lamps, earthen pots, saucers, bowls and so much more! Visiting this place during Diwali or Navratri is no less than visiting the most energetic atmosphere you might have experienced.
The workshops are quite interesting wherein the lower floor and the basement rooms are used as their work areas while the upper rooms/residences as used to stay. Huge furnaces built by them bake over 100 pots at the same time. Maybe it isn’t fascinating to a metropolitan business owner however, to see how the sellers in this place co-exist and successfully conduct their business despite fierce competition, is a virtue that must be observed.
The heart-melting smiles of the locals encourage writers, photographers and pottery lovers of all kinds to come and explore this locality.
The clay and raw materials used to build the exquisite pots and pottery products are brought from Virar, Mumbra and other areas. These are then taken and shaped on their wheel or ‘chaak’ after which the item is kept out to dry in the sun which is then baked in the furnace.
Ceramic pots in Crawford Market may be a popular attraction, but Kumbharwada is truly a potters' paradise. This community has been existing for over a hundred years and is located near Girgaon in Mumbai. There are other places with similar names like Kumbharwada Bhavnagar, but this Kumbharwada in Dharavi is unique in its own way.
Dharavi is not a slum in a colloquial sense, it is a place of business. The view of Dharavi from those who stay in the cleaner parts of the city is that it is infested with crimes of different sorts and venturing into these lands would result in unknown catastrophes which could not be more false. A gem such as Kumbhadwada has been unexplored by the youth of the cities primarily because of the ill-reputation of Dharavi. It’s time to change that.
If you are searching for "Kumbharwada near me", you can use online maps and search engines to locate the nearest pottery village or shop that sells Kumbharwada pottery. However, keep in mind that Kumbharwada in Dharavi, Mumbai, is the most famous and largest pottery village in India, and it is definitely worth a visit if you have the opportunity.
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