The making of the first pot
The need of a pot was felt by human beings in the remote antiquity. There were so many things, which had to be contained or preserved in a proper container, and its absence was keenly felt. The manufacture of the first pot can be traced back to a popular Hindu mythological account. It says that ages ago, during 'Samudra Manthan' or 'churning the ocean' for the acquisition of the invaluable treasure hidden in the ocean-bed, the two parties – deities and demons, finally churned out 'Amrita' or 'divine nectar' after several other precious things. Whoever drank this nectar, would be immortal and invincible. As the 'Amrita' emerged, a container was required to hold it. So Lord Viswakarma, the engineer and craftsman of heaven, hit upon a plan and collected from every God a bit of the 'Kala' or spirit and moulded it into a pot. This was probably the first of its kind in the world. From 'Kala', is derived the Sanskrit word 'Kalasa' or water-pot.

…And came the potters
But this single pot manufactured from divine spirit could by no means satisfy the needs of the entire world. As the demand for pots was increasing fast, the need of an organized and skilled clan for manufacturing pots had become the burning need of the day. So Lord Shiva is believed to have created a man and a woman during his marriage, from the beads of his wreath and bade them to manufacture a 'Kumbha' or water pot, which was required during his wedding ceremony. This was the origin of the 'Kumbhakar' or potter-caste who are popularly known as 'Kumars' in Bengal. Hence, these potters call themselves the protégé of Shiva and place his idol on the center of their wheel, leaving it unturned for the entire first of the Bengali Calendar. On the last day of the aforesaid month, they worship the idol with sincere devotion before immersing it. These potters also worship Lord Viswakarma and believe that he had passed this exquisite art of pottery down to them. 'Rudrapal' is worshipped by the potters in neighbouring Orissa for the same reason. There are several other accounts in the scriptures regarding the origin of the potter-caste. Whatever be their origin, it can not be denied that these artisans play a very significant role in our society and everyday life.

The Potter's wheel
In India, the manufacture of earthenware was practised from time immemorial. It is a wonder how clay can be kneaded into dough, rendered any desired shape and hardened by baking. It strikes our awe as to how the so-called savage men mastered the graceful art of pottery. However, this subtle mechanism with the device of a horizontally revolving wheel, was a giant step in this art. In a relatively modern era, the Greeks might claim to have invented the mechanism of potter's wheel. Several other ancient nations of the East are also believed to have known this device.

In Bengal umpteen superstitions, prejudices and even caste rules have impeded the development of the art of pottery. The required raw material is so abundant and easily made into vessels, that even the most indigent men can afford to replace the old earthen vessels almost regularly. It is indeed a fact that the abundance of raw material has made earthenware cheap, deglamourized it and even given rise to prejudices and superstitions – so far as rejecting them as profane on several occasions viz., death of somebody in the house, solar or lunar eclipse etc. The earthen plates, dishes, cups or glasses made for the purpose of eating cooked food and drinking, are not supposed to be used more than once. Therefore, no lavish ornamentation or decoration is done on such vessels as they are meant for temporary use and are disposable. Moreover, such ornamentation would imply mere wastage of time and energy. Hence, the art of pot-making in Bengal, never got beyond the coarse redware of the primitive Egyptians or for that matter, the smooth blackware of the Etruscans.

Another drawback of the Bengal potters is their inability in glazing their earthenware. Glazing is to cover pottery etc. with a vitreous substance with a smooth, lustrous coating. The use of oxide of copper rendered the gorgeous blue tint to the ancient Egyption porcelain. This was exported to decorate the Greecian cenotaphs as well as the Etrusian graves. The lustre could be on account of common salt which glazed the Bellarmine bottles of Holland. It is a pity that the potters of Bengal have never really tried a hand at glazing. The pressure of organic matter and large proportion of oxide of iron and carbonate of lime in the ordinary potter's clay available in the country, probably makes glazing an absurd proposition to the Bengal potters. There are places where superior quality of clay is found. Unfortunately those places are very much neglected and an organized attempt has hardly been made to utilize this invaluable natural resources for development of pottery. Otherwise, this household industry of Bengal would have been revolutionized and be a forerunner in this field by international standards.

Ordinary household pottery is manufactured in most of the large villages and towns in the country, more so in Bengal. The following list, though not a comprehensive one, presents the household earthen articles made by the potters of Bengal.

Water Vessels
1) 'Kalsi' is a small vessel used to contain water. Every house in Bengal possesses a 'Kalsi' to hold potable water. It also keeps the water cool. It was brought to Calcutta from Ballygunge.
2) 'Jala' is a large vessel – a bigger version of Kalsi. It is used to hold potable water as well as to store grain. It was brought to Calcutta from Saremga.
3) 'Kunja' or 'Suravi' is a porous water-goblet (water vessel) used to keep water cool. It is manufactured on a wide scale in Pandua, Magra and Konnagar in the Hooghly District. Kunjas are also made in Monghyr.
4) 'Gambla' is another vessel found in most of the Bengali houses. It is a flat, open-mouthed vessel usually used to store water, steep rice, rinse clothes and for other purposes. It was brought to Calcutta from Uttarpara in the Hooghly District.

Cooking Pots
1) 'Hanri' is the most popular, widely used cooking pot which is used to boil rice. It is manufactured in several places viz., Chandannagar, Ghatal, Bagerhat, Bandel etc.
2) 'Tijel' is used to cook vegetables, fish and pulses. It is smaller in size and made in several places. It is brought to Calcutta from Chandannagar, Ghatal, Bagerhat, Bandel etc.
3) 'Malsa' is a thick, open-mouthed round pot. It is primarily used for cooking and storing water. The Hindus cook food in a 'Malsa' while mourning the demise of their parents as it is regarded as pious. It used to be supplied to all parts of the city from Ballygunge and is widely manufactured in the villages now a days.
4) 'Sara' is a cover for cooking-pots. Earlier, Saras were made in Ballygunge before coming to Calcutta. Now-a-days, they are made in large scale in the rural areas.
5) 'Kara' is actually a frying pan. It is generally made of iron. It was brought to Calcutta from Amta in the Hooghly District.
6) 'Chatu' is another cooking pot – a shallow pan, which is used to bake breads. Amta is famous for the manufacture of these pans.
7) 'Khuli' is a hollow, circular pot. It is used for making sweetmeats. It is chiefly made in Sayta apart from several other places.

Eating & Drinking Vessels
1) 'Badna' is a water vessel with a spout. The Muslims use this vessel for drinking water.
2) Another vessel used by the Muslims for eating food is the 'Shanak'. It used to come to Calcutta from Amta.
3) 'Thala' is a type of plate – only bigger in size. It is used for eating cooked food. However, it is seldom used by the Hindus. It was and still is manufactured on a large scale at Tarakeshwar apart from several other places.
4) 'Gelas' is actually a corrupted form of glass. It is a tumbler for drinking water usually provided to guests in feasts and ceremonies. These are disposable vessels and made in Calcutta apart from Uttarpara in the Hooghly District.
5) 'Bati' is a small, open mouthed vessel. It can be moulded into different shapes – round, square or even polygonal at times. It is usually used for keeping curry. 'Bati', along with 'cups' are made in a large scale in the villages on the outskirts of Calcutta as well as in some parts of the city.
6) 'Khuri' is a small shallow cup and is used to contain offerings for Gods. 'Khuri' is also indispensable in feasts and ceremonies for providing water or other liquid food to guests. It is a small shallow cup and is made in Calcutta and Uttarpara.

Articles used in worship
1) 'Ghat' is a vessel for holding water. It is considered as sacred and used as a symbol of God by the Hindus when no image is made. It is brought to Calcutta from Chandannagar. It is also used in other religious festivals.
2) 'Shankha' is an ersatz of conch-shell. During religious festivals, it is blown and the sound emitted is believed to dispel all evil forces.
3) 'Amriti' is a pot for storing holy water.
4) 'Dhunachi' is an incense burner.
5) The Bengal potters are also adept in making idols, clay models and clay toys.

Other household articles
1) 'Bhanr' is an oil-pot. It is brought to Calcutta from Tarakeswar, Uttarpara and several other places.
2) 'Kenre' is a vessel for containing milk. It was brought to Calcutta from Tarakeshwar.
3) 'Pradeep' or lamp is found in both red and black. It is made on a large-scale in Baidyabati and Budge-Budge.
4) 'Hukka' is a smoking bowl. It is generally made of coconut-shell. However clay imitations are also found.
5) Another household article is 'Delko', or lamp-stand. It is made in Uttarpara and Calcutta.
6) 'Kalke' or 'Chilim' is a pipe for smoking. It was brought to Calcutta from Serampore and Bali. It has become almost obsolete now a days.
7) 'Chakmaki' is the name of the tobacco-holder. It is manufactured in Uttarpara and brought to Calcutta.
8) 'Deyat' is an ink bottle. It is made in Calcutta.
9) 'Mora' is the name for stool. It is a sitting device and made in Uttarpara.
10) 'Tob' is a corrupted form of flower-tub. It is made at Badamtala, several places of South 24 Prgns. etc. Au reste, the potters make several other articles scilicet, flutes, drums, rainwater pipes, railings, rings for wells, shells for fire works, tiles etc.

Mode of manufacture
In general, two kinds of soil are used by the potters of Bengal. One widely used form is the black earth or the sandy alluvial soil deposited as silt by the rivers on their banks. However, the best pottery is said to be made in the Burdwan District on the banks of the river Bhagirathi. The clay available there is ideal for the manufacture of superior, durable earthen vessels. Incidentally, it deserves mention that Dacca, in East Bengal (today's Bangladesh) was the seat for wonderful red vessels made of red laterite soil brought from Bhawal. It is a pity that such a unique rural industry has not been much developed. Rather, it has been neglected to some extent. Even, the appliances used by our potters are literally primitive. The potters storehouse, kiln, dining room, bedroom – all are under one thatched roof. He prepares his clay by mixing it with water and eliminating all the rough and undesired particles. Flat vessels specially designed by beating with mallets are used to spread the clay. This would later serve as the mould. The wheel in pottery is a clay disc, weighed along the rim and revolving on a pivot. It is usually made of tamarind wood. Generally, the shoulders and neck of all round vessels are designed on the wheel. The body is made manually – often by women who have acquired an expertise in this art. The kiln of the potters is usually divided into two segments. The vessels to be backed are arranged on them. Carefully, loose earth is heaped on the top and the total thing coated with a thick layer of clay. The kiln is generally lighted in the evening and the fuel used to ignite the fire are reeds, grass, plantain bars etc.
A section of the potters manufacture cooking-pots, milk-pans, glasses etc. for feasts, wedding ceremonies etc. They are not entitled to make idols, ghats etc. used in religious ceremonies. Despite not turning the wheel for the entire first month of the Bengali Calendar, the potters can however, dig and store clay during that period. With the passage of time, the new generation of potters think that it is unjustified to waste the aforesaid time and would rather bake the pottery in that month.

Glazing
It has been mentioned earlier, that our potters in Bengal are not quite adept in the art of glazing their vessels. Sometimes, they add a coating of fine clay on the vessels but are a total failure anent to vitrification. Fine black clay blended with river-sand is also used for this purpose. It contains grains of mica. Sometimes, the potters render a whitish tint to some of their ware by washing them with a kind of porcelain clay before baking. Another type of clay, 'Bele mati' is used as a glaze without fusion.

Painted ware
The potters of Bengal paint some of their fancy work with colours after baking them. The 'Putna' women – a semi Hindu, semi Muslim caste, engaged in making toys, effigys and painting pictures, usually help the potters in painting their pottery articles. The colour red is obtained from red lead, yellow from arsenic and green by mixing yellow arsenic and indigo. Again, black is obtained from lamp-black, charred rice or reeds. The colours are tested thoroughly before final application. They are amalgamated with a mucilage, obtained from the kernel of tamarind seeds or from the seeds of 'Bel' fruit (Aegle Mamelos). The pots are varnished with 'Garjan' Oil' (Dipterocarpus) or with the albumen of ducks eggs. In case of the images of deities made by the potters, they are beautified by sprinkling powdered mica on them so long as the paint is wet. But, the painting on earthenware in Bengal, is done quite roughly in sharp contrast to those in Gaya, for instance, where it is done with remarkable efficiency. Sometimes, the potters delineate floral designs or even figures of birds and other animals. The tobacco-sellers decorate their shops with such colourful pots. They also use those pots to store ingredients which add a sweet fragrance to the tobacco-paste called 'Guraku'.

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