Potters enjoying sun in Varanasi

Varanasi potters were finally out in full strength to take advantage of the warm and shining Sun and lend their vigour to giving shape to various-sized earthen cups.

"We could not have asked for a more opportune time for weather to improve than the holy Magh month," said Sunil Vishwakarma, a senior potter. "It not only marks the start of the wedding season but other sacred rituals and festivities also create a demand for out earthen cups. Then, there is always the high demand of tea to be served in these cups in this season," he elaborated.

The recent cold weather, which lasted for 10 days, had caused nearly 50% slump in their business as most of the tea stalls and kiosks across the city had opted for plastic cups. Even more so, the faint sunlight could not provide sufficient warmth for drying the pots, causing delay in their preparation.

"The extended sunlight with increasing intensity is a blessing for clay materials that get harder and bind easily under these conditions," said another potter Ashok Karmakar.

Over 10,000 potter families reside in Varanasi depending on the clay crockery business. The demand for earthen cups reaches its peak in the winter season due to increasing consumption of hot beverages, especially local tea with milk that is preferred in earthen cups. 5 rupees a cup.
The cups then get smashed against the pavement.

based on The Times of India story