Wheels of Heritage Turn Anew: The Maharajor Story

Villagers of Maharajor had to give up their pottery craft due to low demand and migrate to other places for work. Today, though, they are building new lives from contemporary terracotta designs with the help of the Handicrafts dept, write Mayank Bhusan Pani and Danis Roy

- Mayank Bhusan Pani and Danis Roy

ILL two decades back, Maharajor's identity on Nuapada map was of a village where migration for employment was a norm. Today, villagers are giving up migration to earn livelihood from their traditional pottery. Albeit, by shifting to contemporary terracotta items.

A pandemic, a helping hand from the state government and the willingness of the villagers brought about the shift. The village is home to 85 families and a majority of them are now dedicated towards transforming it into a hub of terracotta craftsmanship.

Located in Bhoden block, Maharajor is home to the Kumbhar, the potters' community. Demand for traditional pottery declined, many had given up the profession. Migration became a necessity. It was only during the Covid-19 pandemic that many of these families returned home. With the pause came a new opportunity – to re-learn and revive their own craft.

This is when the Handlooms, Textiles & Handicrafts department stepped in.