Andro pottery (Andro, Manipur)

Manipur is one of the beautiful states in Northeast India. This state has lots of amazing places of interest which will surely amazed any travelers. There is one place Andro which is an earmarked Scheduled Caste village which has been developed to represent the cultural heritage and artful creativeness of the Manipuri tribes. The smaller group of the tribe who lives in Andro village till today they still practice their prized heritage craft, the rare pottery form of Charai Taba. It is very famous art form of making pottery which they still do in that Village.

This village is home to the Andro Gramshang Museum, which comprises different varieties of traditional pots namely, Pudond Makhong, Walom, Ngangkha and Yukhum. Among other varieties are Wangkham, Kambi, Kambi Makhong Panba and Eshaiphu. The outstanding feature of Andro pottery and pot making is its unique custom that unmarried girls are not allowed to make earthen pots. Pottery can only be done by the married women of Andro .The married women undergo a ritual ceremony known as ‘Thou Chanba’ or 'Job assigning' ceremony after which they are allowed to make pots.

Traditional methods of pottery are replaced with a flat stone and a bat, which is used to beat the mud into a required shape. Along with pots, the women also make vases, piggy banks and lamps. Apart from pottery, Andro is also famous for a Doll House, which showcases dolls belonging to 29 popular Manipuri tribes.

The people of Andro use these pots for many years. They use these pots for saving seeds, drinking water, cooking purposes. The main purpose which they use these pots are for storing Yu, which is the local sacred alcoholic rice brew which they often use for all their rituals and religious ceremonies.

Andro potteries are very simple yet very useful and beautiful. Whenever you plan to visit here you can always buy some pots and take it home as a memory of you being in that beautiful place.