Pottery in Langza , Spiti Valley

Some of Dorji’s creation

Travelling brings us so many endearing experiences, especially when we travel interacting with the local lives through our route.

Getting foundations right

While volunteering in Langza, a scenic village in Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh I was introduced to one such culture. Pottery has been a fascinating art practice for me but until I got my hands dirty, I wasn’t aware of various technicalities into it. No wonder it’s not a child’s play

Dorji shows me how to shape it

At 5pm sharp, Dorji, my homestay host, twoke me up to show me the art. First we set up the room by cleaning the wheel, collecting clay and getting fresh water. Dorji gave me a visual demonstration to the art. While he was forming the clayey structure, he forgot to mention to me that it was not as smooth as he was doing it. That is something I learnt once I got on to the wheel myself.

Dorji illustrates how I may add height to my craft

The wheel to hand coordination is never easy. After a few unsuccessful attempts, I finally found my foundation of clay. As my hand struggled to give it some shape I realised it is more about focus. Focussing on the centre and the hand automatically forms the desired shape.

Hands at work

Pottery for me wasn’t about trying out something new. It was a yearn to learn. Pottery is probably one of the oldest practices in the world and one of the first few steps to sustaining ourselves on earth. It surprises me how it is not as prevalent anymore. It is a beautiful art and once you see what you’ve created, you only want to share the talent with many others.

Fresh out my clay craft in the foreground