Khurja: A Charming City Producing Stunning Pottery

Khurja is a small city in Uttar Pradesh famous for its pottery industry. Beautiful, vibrant pottery, glass and ceramic pieces are handmade in this region and have been popular since their origin. At a time when ‘pottery’ was a foreign concept, the people of this quaint city took a keen interest in it and the industry has flourished over the years.

Khurja Pottery, Source: The Hindu

India is a land where arts and crafts are professions that are highly popular but unfortunately, not the most lucrative. The city of Khurja, also called ‘ceramic city’ is about two hours from Delhi. The entire city is bustling with pottery and ceramic shops and is the perfect place for art connoisseurs.

Khurja pottery has existed for centuries, with origins going back to the period between the 14th and 18th centuries. Since then, the industry has provided employment to thousands of artisan families and continues to contribute to the economy. Several factories are now operational, with people from nearby towns and villages also making their livelihood in Khurja.

Khurja pottery uses two types of clays, one is locally dug up, and the other is known as ‘golden clay’, which is a mix of ingredients sourced primarily from Gujarat and Rajasthan. This clay occasionally includes ingredients such as clay from China and quartz sourced from around India.

A few decades ago, artisans were trained under the Pottery Industry Scheme, where some underwent training to manufacturing pottery pieces and some to decorate. Following this, a potters’ colony was set up to provide the trainees with employment.

The manufacturing process was taught for both white pottery (Japan-style porcelain), and traditional blue pottery, which was to be revived. In the beginning, the sales were slow, the quality was not up to the mark, and not much growth was seen. Eventually, the training programs led to better quality and unique designs, people began seeing the charm.

Over the years, Khurja pottery has gained global recognition and was even displayed at the Wembley Exhibition. This form of pottery uses vibrant colours, many of which are derived naturally. The process of making a piece of Khurja pottery is lengthy- first, the clay is made in a large tank by soaking the powders in water overnight. Once it is mixed and in slurry form, it is sieved and allowed to settle. The thick mixture is dried, kneaded, and stored in cellars, ready to use.

The pieces are then shaped on a potter’s wheel and are left to dry completely. They are then coated with a white engobe, which is a liquid clay, to give them a porcelain appearance. The pieces, after drying, are baked at extremely high temperatures and this process is also called ‘biscuit firing’. After this, the pieces are painted, lovingly, albeit tediously, by hand and glazed to give them the final look.

With developments in technology everywhere else, Khurja remains no exception. The artisans have adapted their methods by using electric kilns and furnaces to make their clay wares. The painting and glazing are still done entirely by hand as no machine can replace the art of hand painting. What was a barely known city now makes prominent contributions to the economy.

Khurja is a wonderful example of how traditional art and crafts can thrive and flourish even if the methods change. Having to change with the times is not always a bad thing, it can be highly beneficial, and Khurja is a live example of it. It is one of India’s most affordable and diverse pottery markets, where consumers can buy from the artisans themselves, supporting them directly.