Manamadurai Pottery

Manamadurai pottery is the tradition of terracotta pots and vessels made in Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, shaped from a special local clay and fired to a hard, ringing finish. The potters of the region prepare a blend of local clay mixed with fine sand and other materials, throw the vessels on the wheel and fire them so that the finished pots are strong and give a clear ring when tapped. These qualities make Manamadurai pots especially prized for storing water and cooking, and the region's clay pots are widely used for making Chettinad delicacies and for keeping drinking water cool and sweet. Pottery has been the traditional livelihood of the Velar community here for generations, passed down as a family craft. The trade sustains many potter households and supplies earthenware across southern Tamil Nadu.