The Potters of Ezhumangad

Ezhumangad is one of the popular potters' villages in Kerala, situated on the banks of River Nila. The origin of this potter’s community takes us back to Andhra Pradesh. At one period their trade took them to Madurai in Tamil Nadu and from Madurai they moved to Kerala, many centuries before. With the passage of time they became fluent in Malayalam. Now their language is a conflux of Telugu and Tamil (Kumabaran)

Rivers and wetland areas have always been a settlement hotbed area for potters, demographically, as it fulfills the attainment of the essential raw materials required for this activity - mud and clay. Ezhumangad in Palakkad district, a border area to Thrissur district is one such locale and is close to the River Nila. River Nila, otherwise known as Bharathapuzha has a special meaning for the people of Kerala in terms of cultural and spiritual enrichment. It is believed that the indigenous culture of Malayalam (the language of Kerala) has been created and sustained by the great flow of this river. There also exists a vast variety of folk, ritualistic and classical art forms along the valley hamlets. The poets gave Nila, the lovely pet name to her.

The kumbhara community in Ezhumangad is slowly shrinking. The age-old tradition of pottery in this area is gradually giving way to other daily wage jobs along with a promise of better lifestyle. It would be a matter of time when this community would only find a mention in some historical journals or books.

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