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Terracotta
is an age - old craft of Rajasthan. Alwar create paper – thin Kagzi
pottery, while red and white clay articles with arithmetical patterns
are prepared in Pokaran. Good-looking terracotta wall decorations
usually showing Lord Ganesh or local heroes come from Mulela. Bikaner
is famous for its painted pottery, which is decorated with lac colors,
while the stoneware of Jaisalmer is quite beautiful.
Terracotta art in Rajasthan is very significant in the State because
for these villagers the worship of their terracotta deities is as
basic and essential for survival as the jug of water which contains
and carries water from the well to their homes in this dry land. It is
said that terracotta art in Rajasthan is of excellent value right from
the Mesolithic Age till the Gupta period. The Terracotta art works of
Rajasthan are also known for its elaborative workmanship.
In Rajasthan terracotta images of the mother goddess showed in various
incarnations are broadly worshipped by the tribals.As Goddess Durga
she sits across a lion, as chamunda an elephant, mounted on a buffalo
as kalika or holding a weapon as Aawanmata.The serpent God Nagadev has
been worshipped in India since ancient times and the images usually
have a central figure bounded with several snake consorts. Another
popular male deity the potters make is Bhairav represented by two
images signifying the deity’s omnipotence-Kala Bhairav and Gora
Bhairav,the dark and the fair.Bhairav who bears a distinct similarity
to the Lord Shiva, holds a trident, a thunderbolt, a head and a nose.
His mount is a dog and his image is installed in every temple with
that of other gods and goddesses.Kala,cunning and strong willed, is
satisfied by the offering of liquor and animal sacrifice while
Gora,mild compassionate and vulnerable, is offered as sweetmeats.
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The ancient
civilization of Rajasthan has also develop rural terracotta as
offerings for various gods. The terracotta images and signs of
Molela,near Udaipur,have gained appreciation in big towns and even
abroad. This attractive craft has survived down the year because of
the religious feelings of the tribals and the rural population.People
from as far as jaipur come to Molela to look for the image of their
deity. The journey to Molela,to pick up the idol, bless it and take it
back for an installation ceremony is an detailed custom, guided by the
subconscious mind of human sociology. These terracotta decorations are
in great demand from local buyers in the month of January.
Ahore in Jalore district manufactures beautiful terracotta horses as
religious offerings. These range from two to almost six feet in
height, and April is the time when they are prepared in large numbers.
Temples can also be seen all over in Rural India; in small dark caves,
in the middle of dense forests, on high hill tops, in the roots of
gigantic trees, in open fields, by the wayside or in the village
square, at the entrance of a home and even within the living space or
courtyard of a family.
In Rajasthan the families of the Potter use two sources of clay from
local ponds, a common one for making the plaques and a plastic one
enemy throwing. Donkey Dung is collected by the women from the fields
and added to the common clay in the ratio of 1:3 to make it
appropriate for modeling. As with all potter families, there are
strict divisions of labour within its members.
Colourful terracotta toys are a fast disappearing commodity, mostly
found at the local fairs and haats.Bu is one such small village near
Mundwa in Nagaur district whose terracotta toys and utensils are
famous in the big and small fairs of Marwar.This toys use three
techniques –the wheel, the mould and the hand –a tradition that dates
back to the Harappan and Kalibangan civilization. Toy figures of the
birds, camel, tigers, rabbit, deer, horse, and idols are famous in
fairs around Merta as well as in Balotra (Barmer) and Sathin
(Jodhpur).
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