Terracotta Craft of Asharikandi Village, Assam

Asharikandi is a cluster of terracotta and pottery crafts located in the Dhubri district of Assam, India. It is the largest cluster in the region where both crafts are practiced in a traditional way. The quality of the products depends on various factors such as the quality of Hiramati, the special type of soil used as the principal raw material, the artisan’s artistic skills, and climatic conditions.

The Asharikandi-style of terracotta has a unique identity due to its age-old tradition of kumbhakaras (potters) who possess exceptional skills and knowledge.

The artisans of Asharikandi use various raw materials such as Hiramati, sand, caustic soda, red soil, firewood, and hay to make terracotta and pottery products. The clay used for making terracotta is collected from the river side of Silaipar, which is around 18 to 20 km away from Asharikandi. The other essential raw materials include sand, colour, and caustic soda. The artisans also use traditional tools such as Kodal, Pitna, Kaim, Knives, Kathi, Boila, Khota, Aith, and Brush to make these products.