KUMBA TWA - THE PLACE OF THE POTTERS
Leaving the Narayan temple and turning right, you just have to walk down the alley for a few minutes to reach the picturesque and tiny Potters' Square where Bertolucci shot a poignant scene of Little Buddha. This is one of the most fascinating places in the city, where the clay is still worked on hand-powered wooden wheels. Don't miss the work of the potters, who turn the clay on foot-operated wooden lathes. Their welcome is kind and smiling, it is possible to take pictures, but respect is appreciated and it is better to ask for a sign beforehand. The multitude of ochre-coloured pots drying in the open air is a testimony to the skill of the craftsmen. Several women are usually involved in drying the pottery before firing it. Here you are entering the lower caste quarter. If you look down, you will not fail to see a chvasa stone. These are lotus-shaped stones embedded in the tarmac of the road, at a crossroads or near a temple. They are the abode of deities who accept offerings, known as "impure" among Hindus, in connection with birth and death. Each family has its own. A small shrine dedicated to Vishnu occupies a corner of the square; Ganesh, the patron saint of potters, has his residence in a two-roofed temple, the Jet Ganesh, built by a potter in the 17th century.
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