Potters in Manikganj busy ahead of Pahela Baishakh

Potters of Manikganj

are passing busy time making clay toys ahead of theBaishakhi Mela fairs marking Pahela Baishakh.

This correspondent visited Palora Palpara of Manikganj Sadar Upazila on Friday and talked to the potters about their preparation of Baishakhi Mela.

They said there are about one thousand kumar (potters) families in seven upazilas of Manikganj district.

Bishnu Pal, a 47-year old potter, said they make and sell various types of clay things round the year. However, the Baishakhi Mela is held in deferent areas of the district to usher in the Bangla New Year and the demand for various types of clay toys including dolls, horses, elephants, cats, rabbits, crane and lions increase for the Baishakhi fair.

“This is why the potters here makes more toys to meet the demand for the fair,” he said. Other members of his family are also busy with the work ahead of the occasion, he said.

But all the hard work and the cost to build these do not bring a lot of profit from sales, but only to maintain the parental profession they are doing this work, said Monoronjon Pal.

Poritosh Sarker of the Palpara neighbourhood said he buys the clay dolls and sells those at deferent place of the country. He said he expects good sales this year. 

Due to not getting fair price and professional dignity, the new generation of the Pal community are leaving the parental profession. If they do not get government patronage then this pottery will be abolished, said Nasir Uddin, chairman of Betila-Mitora union council of the Manikganj Sadar Upazila. 

Due to the increase in the use of silver and plastic materials, the use of clay materials has reduced and government patronage is needed to bring back the lost tradition of pottery.