Bhubaneswar, Oct. 18 -- Traditional pottery in Odisha is facing a severe downturn as demand for clay-made products continues to decline in the modern age. Once a thriving source of livelihood, the craft has now become an uncertain means of income for many families struggling to sustain their ancestral trade.

Potters, who once earned modestly, especially during festivals such as Diwali, now find themselves grappling with dwindling orders and fading interest in earthenware, raising concerns over the future of this traditional occupation.

In Khadikajodi village under Korukonda block of Malkangiri district, thirteen families still depend on pottery for their livelihood. They make earthen lamps, pots, pitchers, water jars, small containers, ...