Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya (IGRMS) under its popular summer series of ‘Do and learn’ educational programmes commenced the training workshop of “Manipuri Doll Craft and Pottery of Ukhrul (Manipur)” from Thursday May 12. The weeklong program would be concluded on May 19.
Manipur a well known Indian State to the outside world for rich cultural manifestation and music, dance, songs and pottery. In the central Manipur valley Pottery craft is practiced in the Chairel, Thongjao and Nongpok Sekmai villages. These three villages in thoubal district were well known in the past for their unique style of red-ware pottery. The potters of Chairel, Nongpok Sekmai and Thongjao use leitan (black clay) and Nungjreng (Sand) as tempering material to produce their red wares. The materials are found in their locality. The potters of these three villages mix the clay with nungjreng in an equal ratio to prepare good paste for producing strong and durable pots.
The only two hilly regions of Manipur where the art of indigenous pottery is practiced are the Oinam hill village situated in the Senapati district of Manipur and longpi village in the Ukhrul district of Manipur.
Both these villages practice the indigenous style of pottery making in their traditional and religious practices. Majority of the pottery craft in Manipur is specialised by women with an exception of longpi Tangkhul Naga pottery where male members practiced the art of pottery. On the first day artisans, commenced training by giving shape to clay and making a cup using cylindrical structure.