High demand for earthen pots in Palamur

​Mahbubnagar: Come summer, it is time for the people to look out for some cool water and what could be better than the pot water? Yes, with people love to drink pure filtered cool water from earthen pots, the demand for earthen pots in the district has increased many folds since the beginning of this summer month. 

According to Rukmini, a potter who had established a stall near the junction at the Telangana Amarula Stupam in New Town said that the demand for pots has increased many fold. “This summer we are having a brisk business. At present we are selling anyway between 50 and 100 pots every day. We are targeting to sell more than 3,000 pots this month and it is not a surprise if we can even cross this,” said Rukmini. 

Even though there are lot of people who have installed refrigerators in their houses for keeping the items and water cool, majority of them prefer to store the water in earthen pots as they feel drinking water from a pot is healthier than that of from a refrigerator. 

“Earthen pots have a natural filter as it is made of clay. As the water seeps through the clay pot evaporation causes cooling and all the dirt or any unwanted particles get settled down and pure cool water is available. This is healthier than the water from the refrigerator,” says Anuradha, a pot buyer. 

During monsoon and winter seasons, the potters usually sell a pot at the rate between Rs 70 and Rs100, but in summer the smallest of the small pot is sold at not less than Rs 120 per piece, and the pots with big tummy and with a tap is sold at Rs 180-200. “This is the only season where we earn good revenue. Otherwise the demand for pots is very less during other seasons. However, after summer it is only during weddings season that we expect better sales of pots,” said Rukmani. 

In the entire Mahbubnagar district headquarters there are only two families who are doing pot making business and they are carrying out this traditional family business for centuries. “My father and myself are the only people from Kummariwadi colony working in this business. All others have left this business and doing some other works. The main reason for this is there is not enough revenue or profits so lot of them are doing jobs and set up other businesses,” said Rukmani.