MANAMADURAI POTTERY

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Context

• The Manamadurai pottery recently earned a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Manamadurai

• Manamadurai in Sivagangai district is known for pottery making.

Making of these pots

• Clay comes from the Vaigai river.
• Since the bottom has to be perfectly round, expertise is required.
• The circumference of the pot and the neck should be proportionate so that the pot sits flat on the ground.
• Mud, clay and heating should in the right proportion to ensure the strength of product.
• The main raw materials are soil and water.
• The sand is collected and dried for two days. The particles of the mud get separated by sieving.
• The slurry is mixed with the sand and lead and graphite are added to the mixture to improve the quality. This mixture is now rich in calcium lime, ash, red lead, sodium silicate, manganese, iron, and plasticizing.
• The pot is also painted in different colours.

Uniqueness of the pots

Type of clay	Sourced from water bodies like Nedunkulam, Nathapurakki, Sundaranadappu, Seikalathur
Elements of nature	While making these pots, the five elements of nature namely earth, water, fire, sun and air are used.

Some of the famous pottery traditions that have been practised across India

Jaipur Blue Pottery	Rajasthan
Khurja Pottery	Uttar Pradesh
Khavda Pottery	Gujarat
Andretta Pottery	Himachal Pradesh
Bankura Pottery	West Bengal
Longpi Pottery	Manipur
Bidriware Pottery	Karnataka
Molela Murtikala	Rajasthan

PRACTICE QUESTION Q) Which of the following statements with reference to regional pottery in India is/are correct? a. Rajasthan is famous for Molela Murtikala and Andretta Pottery. b. The Manamadurai pottery is known for its usage of five elements of nature. a only b only both a and b neither a nor b Correct Answer: 2

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/manamadurai-pottery-gets-gi-tag/article66773064.ece