THE POTTER - PART II

MEETING PEEMARAM

As the festivities came to an end by 3^rd November, it was time for Peemaram the potter who had set up his shop outside the NGV gate to go back. A couple of days before he left, I caught up with him and clicked some more snaps of him and the artifacts that he had created. Peelaram originally hails from Bhiladaa in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan and sells terracotta items in a makeshift shop along the Old Madras Road (OMR). With the onset of Diwali when earthenware, especially lamps are in great demand, he comes here to Koramanagala to make some money. As compared to my first meeting with him, he seemed to be more relaxed this time around, giving me suggestions and smiling a lot more. When I showed him my previous post (Link) which had some of his snaps, he was thrilled and even asked me for the web address so that his relatives back home can see it. He asked me for hard copies of the photos. Sadly though, since it was Diwali many of the shops here were shut down and I could not get the images in time. Although Peemaram has gone back, I hope that I will meet him soon and give him the photos I had taken. I think that will be a great tribute to this master potter.

For the previous post in this series, click here (Link)

HAPPY DIP-AWALI 2013

THE PAINTED DIYAS 

As mentioned in an earlier post, Bhabi decided to sell painted diyas this Diwali. Waah Bhabi, aap kitni talented ho! Here are some of the snaps that I took of the lamps she colored in the week before the festival began. Amongst the eight to ten patterns, I have posted images of one of these - my favorite - the green and golden combination.

THE POTTER - PART 1

ELEGANT EARTHENWARE ON DISPLAY

Every year, just prior to Diwali - the festival of lights, it is common to find potters along the road, selling beautifully created and brightly coloured pottery at very cheap prices. A few days ago, Bhabi came up with this idea of selling painted diyas to earn some extra money during the festive season. As such, last Saturday, I and my Canon SX50HS accompanied her as she went to buy them from this potter who has set up his shop near the back gate of NGV in Kormanagala. Hailing from Jodhour, Bholaram the potter was kind enough to allow me to click these snaps and even posed for a portrait, while attending to several customers who like us, looked to be spell bound by his magnificent work.

Pottery is an art which I have always admired. Besides the fact that earthenware is extremely elegant, it also has a nice feel to it, something that you can never find either with metal or plastic. And pottery holds a special place in the hearts of all people who love history in general and archaeology in particular. I am no exception to this. In many regions across the world, advancement in pottery and the art depicted on it is one of the factors used in distinguishing phases of several prominent civilizations. Over the years the methods used in creating them may have changed; I am pretty sure that much of the items on display here were not created on the traditional wheel but using moulds. Nonetheless, the finesse of these articles is timeless. On this note, i would like to wish all my friends and reader a very happy, green and safe Diwali. 

Peemaram - the Master Potter
Surya Colony, Hijwadi Road, Sabji Mandi, Bhiladaa, Jodhpur - Rajasthan

PS: Some of the photos posted here were clicked by my Bhabi.

For the next post in this series, click here (Link).