Sivaganga, Jan. 13 -- Amid the festivities of Thai Pongal - one of the most vibrant cultural festivals in the state, artisans in the Poovanthi village of Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, have been working at a brisk pace to produce earthen pots.

These pots are known for their exceptional strength and durability against the fine sand from the Vaigai River. Artisans expertly blend this sand with alluvial soil from local water bodies (kanmais) in precise proportions, shaping them into sturdy vessels perfect for the festivities.

One of the artisans, Ganesan, who has been making earthen pots for a long time, told ANI, "Even though there's high demand for pots in these times, we can't get the soil needed to make them. So, for places that used to order ...