Happy to just potter around Bhaktapur

Pottery has deep history in the Kathmandu Valley civilisation, the clay soil of the former lake bed perfectly suited for terracotta ware, bricks and tiles. It is a livelihood that builds on heritage, especially in Bhaktapur and Thimi where traditional potters (कुमाल) have been moulding and firing clay vessels for centuries. 

Beyond its role in daily life and rituals, pottery blends functionality with the cultural and spiritual, and continues to thrive in new ways. Moulding clay on a potter’s wheel has become a tourist attraction and therapeutic escape for those stressed by the pressures of modern life. 

Crafting objects from clay is a tradition passed down through generations for the Newa people of Bhaktapur, particularly the Prajapati and Awal clans. Modern machinery has allowed the craft to develop new products and practices. 

Most have broadened their product range by including glazed ceramic and refined clay products, opened showrooms and conducted classes for enthusiasts.  

“Ceramics are more in demand since they have longer life and alternatives to plastic,” says Ratna Prajapati of Cera Nepal. 

Ceramic products are used in crockery, while clay cookware is regaining popularity. Once solely a traditional craft, pottery is now a modern business offering people a hobby, a pastime and even healing.

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“People prefer to use ceramics for cookware rather than plastic and other products,” says Riya Prajapati of Prajapati Ceramic in Boudha.  

The pottery industry faced hurdles during times of prolonged power cuts, and the 2015 earthquake in which Bhaktapur was particularly badly hit. However, the Covid-19 pandemic was a turnaround, as many people picked it up as a pandemic hobby. 

Ratna Prajapati recalls many students and Kathmandu-based expats started reaching out for pottery classes at the time. 

Previously, it was mostly foreigners who were interested in pottery classes, but more and more Nepalis are enrolling for hobby or  relaxation. 

The Pottery Training Centre at Bhaktapur currently has the capacity to train 10 people at a time, but is enlarging its studio to accommodate 30-40 students.   

“I started pottery when I was 9. Initially, we used to make पाला (ceremonial clay cups for oil lamps), but we have expanded to mugs and other ceramics,” says Sajan Prajapati of the Pottery Training Centre. “Age is not a barrier to learn the craft and art of pottery.”   

Pottery is a blend of relaxation, self-expression, and ultimately delivers a sense of achievement. It has been proven to offer solace to those facing emotional challenges, while also boosting self-confidence and a sense of self-worth, as individuals create something from shapeless clay. 

Read also: Practicing mindfulness in schools, Basu Gautam 

It also provides a nonverbal way for people to process their feelings, giving them a sense of control and a creative outlet. 

“A student with a disability once visited our studio with a group, and she made better shapes from clay than others,” recalls Ganesh Hari Prajapati, Riya’s father. “Children are naturally restless and always on the move, and pottery helps them concentrate. Even while they wait for their turn, they play with lumps of clay.” 

In addition to regular product sales, Bhaktapur’s new clay entrepreneurs now process bulk orders from hotels and restaurants looking for more eco-friendly solutions. A traditional terracotta water jar, for example is naturally cooled by evaporation as water seeps through the porous clay.

Subin Suwal, 28, is also with the Pottery Training Centre in Bhaktapur and conducts regular classes for individuals and groups of Nepalis and expats. 

He says, “Nepalis typically join shorter classes, while tourists opt for longer, more detailed sessions to immerse themselves in the craft. Interest is growing because it can be a stress reliever, and participants get a sense of satisfaction seeing the end product.”

Some of Ratna Prajapati’s student customers have bought their own wheels and now make products at home, and even sell handmade ceramic products to augment their cash income.

Pottery helps improve focus and can calm the mind. Ratna Prajapati says he notices this among some of his customers who initially look like they are going through tough times because they are distracted and uninterested. But after watching their friends enjoy moulding clay at the wheel, they are drawn to give it a try themselves. 

“We see their moods instantly uplifted, they brighten up and suddenly take an interest in their surroundings,” he adds. “Pottery as a hobby helps people when they feel a disconnect with life.” This becomes more important with mental health becoming a major priority, and the spread of mobile phone use among younger people. 

Prajapati Ceramic, for example, takes pottery to the next level by offering therapy using the GEM Method, (Guide, Engage, and Motivate) to improve mental health and restore focus in younger visitors. The Studio combines pottery making with music and counselling conversations with customers.  

While pottery classes can be a respite from social media addiction, pottery business owners themselves are taking to mobiles and digital media to grow their businesses through networking and collecting online reviews.

Riya at Prajapati Ceramics adds that most customers these days come to her studio after seeing online reviews and videos that she puts up on Instagram and other platforms. 

She says, “I feel digital outreach is important, we get out to a large number of people, and sharing the positive impacts of pottery is just a  click away.”  

Pottery History 

Pottery making is nearly as old as human civilisation, with the first terracotta objects found in archaeological sites dating back at least 10,000 years. Potters fired moulded clay into objects for everyday household use. 

Later, terracotta was used as building material for bricks, tiles and even sewers. A different type of clay was then developed to shape porcelain objects, either as utensils or art. Some of the earliest porcelain was fired in China 1,500 years ago.

Pottery arrived in Kathmandu Valley probably from both the Indus Valley Civilisation and China about 5,000 years ago. The fine clay found in the lake deposits was an ideal raw material for household objects, and most early buildings in the Valley were made from bricks and tiles by firing clay in kilns.

Pottery flourished as an art form and reached its most creative peak during the Malla Period (12-18th century CE) when all the kingdoms in the Valley competed to build grand temples and monasteries. Pottery also took on an artistic function in rituals and continues to have deep cultural significance.  

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