A Day With A Potter

Learn about the traditions and history of redware pottery with potter, Indrapal Prajapat. Part of our Teaching Fellows exploration of water storage, this programme will give you hands-on learning experience, demonstrating the significance of various designs, techniques, and styles passed down through generations and their relevance to the weather and traditions of Jodhpur. 

Earthen pots are indispensable in Indian households, serving as traditional refrigerators. The porous nature of these pots allows water to seep through the pores. As this water evaporates from the surface, it extracts heat from the water inside, creating a cooling effect. This continuous process keeps the pot's surface moist and the water temperature refreshingly low, with the cooling effect intensifying as the ambient heat rises.

Indian pottery, an art as ancient as the civilisation itself, is a testament to the historical richness of the Indian subcontinent. Tracing its origins to the revered Indus Valley Civilisation, pottery in India is not only functional but also a form of exquisite artistic expression.

About the Creative Arts Education Programme and the Teaching Fellowship:

“Jal Dharohar” is an initiative devised by a group of five Teaching Fellows who have been involved in our pilot Creative Arts Education Programme over the last year. Celebrating the diverse and culturally rich heritage, folklore, handicrafts and musical traditions of Jodhpur, the group have developed three community programmes which will take place across public venues in the city.

Their main emphasis focuses on fostering empowerment, nurturing cultural pride, and encouraging active community engagement. The purpose of this initiative includes the preservation and promotion of Jodhpur's unique heritage, the empowerment of local communities, increased public awareness and appreciation of the cultural wealth, and fostering community engagement through artist interactions and workshops aimed at fostering a deeper connection with the artistic expressions of the region.

The project also explores traditional water resources to understand their cultural and ecological significance and to cultivate an appreciation for this historical heritage. This project aims to showcase and preserve a community that is at risk of disappearing in the coming years, while helping the audience to understand and value local art.

About Indrapal Prajapat: 

A skilled Potter from the Prajapat community, Mr. Indrapal Prajapat is dedicated to his craft since the age of 10 under the guidance of his grandfather, Mr. Daulal ji Prajapat. Now, in the fifth generation, they continue the tradition, passing on their knowledge to the next generation.

Committed to environmental sustainability, he chose pottery as an eco-friendly alternative to steel and plastic. His exquisite creations grace markets across Rajasthan, from Bhilwara to Barmer, including the iconic Ghanta Ghar of Jodhpur. He caters to weddings upon request, setting up stalls adorned with their masterpieces. Utilising the finest chikni mitti sourced from Mokalsar village in Barmer, Rajasthan, his pottery reflects a legacy of craftsmanship and reverence for tradition, shaping clay into works of art.