Clay scarcity threatens traditional idol making in Tiruchi villages

Tiruchi (Tamil Nadu), Sep 7
Preparations for Vinayagar Chaturthi have become increasingly difficult for more than 40 pottery families in two Tiruchy hamlets, where the declining supply of suitable clay and sand has disrupted the production of traditional idols and earthenware.

The artisans have entered the final week before the festival with much of their work still unfinished. Their livelihoods depend largely on making small Vinayagar idols, household pottery and ceremonial fire pots.

Poor-quality raw material, however, has slowed production and raised concerns over whether they can fulfil seasonal orders on time.

Permission was recently granted to remove desilted earth from a pond at Inamkulathur. Although about 10 truckloads of material have been transported to the hamlets, only a portion can be used for pottery. Much of it is mixed with sludge and lacks the firmness needed to shape idols.

Products made from the material also face a greater risk of breaking while being dried, fired or transported. Pottery flourished in the two settlements for generations because of their proximity to the Cauvery and Kollidam rivers.

Clay and fine sand collected from the riverbeds provided a strong mixture that could be moulded easily and produced fewer cracks. Restrictions on accessing those sources have left the artisans dependent on material obtained from less reliable locations.

Several families now purchase clay from privately owned farmland in Thuraiyur, Musiri and Lalgudi. The additional cost of buying and transporting the material over long distances has sharply reduced their earnings.

Similar difficulties affected production during the previous Pongal season, when the limited clay supply prevented many artisans from manufacturing enough pots to satisfy local demand.

Unlike centres producing towering festival idols, these hamlets specialise in figures generally measuring less than 1.5 feet. The idols are largely sold within Tiruchy, while clay pots and fire pots are supplied for Amman festivals across Tiruchy, Perambalur and Ariyalur districts.

Artisans fear that continued difficulty in securing suitable clay could weaken a craft sustained across generations. They also seek easier permission to collect riverbed clay under official supervision whenever environmental and water-flow conditions allow safe and limited extraction.

They want the authorities to identify a dependable source of good-quality material and establish a regular, affordable supply system. Such support is considered essential not only for meeting seasonal festival demand but also for protecting pottery as a viable occupation for families in both hamlets.