Kumbharwada is one of the oldest settlements in Dharavi, built by migrants from Gujarat in the second half of the 19th Century. one of Dharavi’s most famous local crafts. In the small gaps between their houses, artisans throw and fire pots of all shapes and sizes, from small cups for yoghurt to diya candles, larger water pots or ornamental vases. In the 1800s, Mumbai’s municipal authorities moved the potters, who had previously settled in the Southern tip of the city, When they arrived, Dharavi was a no-man’s land between two railway lines, dotted with a few villages, which have since expanded into one large settlement. As Mumbai grew, Dharavi ended up in a more central location, prompting property speculation and a cultural, touristic and academic interest in the neighborhood.
This profession is generally performed by ‘kumbhar‘ community. The peak time for this profession is Diwali. At the time of Diwali, the whole area is covered by the smoke emitted by pottery kilns. This business is run by individual households. Each individual house has its own pottery kiln and a shop facing the road ahead of the house. Kumbharwada in Dharavi consist of skilled potter families manufacturing of clay pots a tradition handed down from generations. An average potter joint family has about 6-8 members occupying an area of 600-800 sq ft in a rundown shanty made of brick and cement walls and corrugated sheet roofs tops. Clay Pots producing activity is carried on with its four walls on the floor and a wooden loft built overhead is a make shift place for members to sleep and eat.
The younger generation of potters is not interested in this business; they have chosen different professions. “My children are not interested in pottery. One is in Australia and another is in America. And my daughter is doing her masters,” words by a potter form Dharavi.
Google is so helpful as local guides sharing all this pictures their stories, their address in maps of entire world, this results more and more people are reaching towards oldest business. Kumbharwada pottery industry is getting their customers from different part of worlds yes not only from India. These people export their products in abroad too, They make pottery for export In America, consumer goods are largely imported from places like China these days, including orders for Kumbharwada pottery.