Potters Village

Stepping into Kumhar Gram of Uttam Nagar feels like entering a world where every grain of clay holds centuries of dreams, resilience and social bonds. The heartbeats of nearly 700-800 families can be heard in the rhythmic whirl of potter’s wheels, echoing a lineage that traces back to the palaces and dusty lanes of Alwar, Rajasthan.  My lens sought not just faces, but stories - a legacy that has weathered migration, hardship and the changing tides of Delhi’s urban life. 

The story of Uttam Nagar’s potters began in the late 1960s, when families from Alwar and nearby Haryana migrated to Delhi, driven by an existential need to escape poverty and unemployment.  What was once barren land is now a vibrant location of homes, kilns and workshops, each echoing ancestral techniques passed down through generations.

Here, the Prajapatis - a name synonymous with the Kumhar (potter) community - hold tradition close. I met descendants whose grandparents shaped their first pots on Rajasthan’s soil and who now see their children and grandchildren picking up the craft, even as urban pressures tug them in new directions. The sense of lineage is palpable - every generation holds to the wheel, molding the future while honoring the past.

Wandering through alleyways, I witnessed the daily grind - families sieving impure clay, hands caked in earth. Income remains modest; at times, the profit per item is no more than a few rupees. I bought a few items and paid a paltry sum for it. Yet, the village thrives as a tight knit community, supporting each other through festivals, weddings and hardships.

The women, faces veiled or uncovered, are backbone artisans - crushing clay, painting diyas and passing skills to daughters. Children run and play between mounds of clay and rows of drying pots, their laughter mingling with the warmth of collective labour.

What’s unique about Uttam Nagar is not just its scale - possibly the largest potters’ colony in India - but its alive legacy of community work. The families have preserved festivals with earthen diyas, created idols for the city's temples, supplied eco-friendly cookware during the rise of environmental awareness.

The photos from today’s walk tell stories beyond words.

The woman in vibrant attire and yellow dupatta at her doorway reminds us how traditions endure, how everyday resilience is worn with pride and dignity.

Stacks of diyas, from plain to intricately painted, illustrate the evolution from necessity to artistry - each piece shaped by hands calloused with purpose and pride.

The rows of damp, freshly molded pots awaiting display shows optimism.The artisan hand-painting black pots, surrounded by motifs both old and new, hints at innovation within tradition.

The outdoor workshop, brimming with clay forms and surrounded by daily life - buckets, raw earth, half-finished pots - epitomises the spirit of working together, side-by-side. 

The gathering of smiling children, their eyes curious and lively, offer a portrait of hope: in their giggles, the future of Kumhar Gram breathes.

In every smile, in every fleeting glance, one finds stories of pride, endurance and collective joy. Even in the middle of bustling Delhi, the potters greet the world with laughter that defies their daily struggles.