To meet the surplus demand of Kudua (earthen pots) in the Jagannath Temple here during the holy month of Kartika, as many as eight potter’s wheels (Kumbhar Chaka) were contributed to Kumbhar servitors (potters) of the shrine on Friday.
The Odisha Kunal Mahasangha, a State body of potters’ community, handed over the mechanised wheels which can be run by electricity and produce more numbers of Kudua and Handi (earthen bowl) compared to indigenous wheels already in use.
One Debasis Senpati of Cuttack paid the cost of the wheels towards charity for potters of the temple to meet the shortages of Kudua and Handi after the Fani cyclone in Puri.
Most of the earthen wheels in Kumbharsala (pottery) in Kumbharpada were damaged by the devastating storm, for which the Jagannath Temple faces acute shortages of Kudua and Handi for preparing dishes in its kitchen.
Due to the shortages, the prices of all kinds of earthen utensils used in the kitchen have increased, thereby affecting rates of Mahaprasad.