BHAKTAPUR, March 11: From an ancient period, Bhaktapur’s Pottery Square has been a hub for the locals to earn their living through pottery. Elderly people as well as the local youths, especially belonging to the Prajapati community, have been participating to preserve this age-long culture.
A local of Pottery Square, Shobha Laxmi Prajapati, stated that her entire family was engaged in this occupation to earn their living. “I mold 200-250 items including clay pots, flower vase and khutrukey (piggy bank) everyday for sale,” she said.
A waning tradition
One of the local potters, Shivaprasad Prajapati, said his monthly income ranged between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000 from pottery. “Hand molded items are highly preferred by the foreigners and are sold in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur as well as other areas,” he said.
“The molding process has been transformed with time as machines have replaced the manual works of the potters,” said 20-year-old potter Bini Prajapati. “Earlier, the clay for pottery was brought from Sipadol of Bhaktapur, but it should be purchased now. This has been affecting our profit,” she added.
After the 2015 earthquake, only a few families at Pottery Square have been continuing with the profession. “As many as 20-25 home were involved in the occupation before the earthquake, while the number stands at 10-15 now,” said 55 year-old local Harimaya Prajapati. “We are concerned that our culture and source of income is prone to getting extinct,” she added.
