Disappearing traditional spaces – Gujarat Paniyaru – a water-place
Photo by Avani Varia – Barkrol village, Gujarat - 2012
Traditionally paniyaru – a sacred water space - was an essential and integral part of every home in Gujarat. It could be a raised platform or a stone table, mounted about 2’6” above ground level, with curved circles to place pots, and had decorative motifs on the front. This space was used to store water both for drinking and cooking. Paniyaru was considered a sacred space and lighted a lamp every evening around the time of sunset in front of it. Water was stored in clay and/or brass pots placed one on top of another in sets of two. Each house would have at least one or sometimes two paniyara: one for the family and another for visitors, travellers and outsiders. The paniyaru inside the house was meant for family use, and the one kept at the entrance of the house near visitors’ seating area was for use of outsiders. Along with urbanisation and western influence, this space is now disappearing. Today the place of a water pot is taken over by a refrigerator or a water purifier. But one can still find at least one water pot in the kitchen in many houses!
Avani Varia – Heritage Arts Professional – INDIA – www.avnivaria.com / info@avnivaria.com
Photo by Avani Varia – 2014 This installation is done by Avani Varia for a restored heritage haveli in Ahmedabad,
Gujarat.
With changing lifestyle and rapid urbanisation, traditional pottery all over India is facing challenges of sustenance, both occupational and social. A research was initiated by aadhar Charitable Trust in 2009 to understand the present condition of traditional potters of Gujarat. Initially the focus was on eastern Gujarat; among those studied were the Varia earthenware makers. Varia is a surname which refers to a line of traditional potters in Gujarat. Today there are very few Varia potter families who still practise this age old craft form. Those families who still carry on this tradition are located in five districts in the north-eastern part of Gujarat. They make cooking and eating utensils, as well as a variety of containers for storing substances like water, oil, milk, grains, pulses and other items. The research was followed by a project to make the traditional craft sustainable. Based on the outcomes of the research project, aVni, a social enterprise, has developed the brand, VARIA POTTERY, to make this craft economically sustainable and to give the traditional potters a positive social status. Project VARIA POTTERS is working to bring these sacred water spaces back into Gujarati homes.
Avani Varia – Heritage Arts Professional – INDIA – www.avnivaria.com / info@avnivaria.com