Written by: Dr. Saba Noor
Posted on: April 22, 2021 | 
| 中文
Making Pottery in Hala
Sindhi crafts are famous and cherished throughout the country, as they are a tangible part of our cultural heritage and aesthetics. Sindhi crafts are not just sought after for their beauty and color, but also for their unique, intricate details that have been perfected by craftsmen for generations. These practices are worth preserving and acknowledging for sheer skill and hard work put into them. The roots of Sindhi craftsmanship come together in the city of Hala, located at a distance of 62 kilometers from the city of Hyderabad.
Hala is a historical place, with sites and infrastructure which predates the British era. The city an epicenter for the Sufi Suharwardy sect, which spread in the Subcontinent through the proselytizing by saint Baha-ud-din Zakriya. But Hala is most popularly known as the birthplace of Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, although Bhittai’s shrine is located in Bhit Shah, not far from Hala, which is thronged by his devotees. It is the only place where Bhittai’s beloved instrument, the Tambooro, is made and played in his honor.
However, Hala is famous for its Kashi artisans, who have been honing their craft since the Arab invaders of Sindh brought along craftsmen to make utensils. Amongst its most popular handicrafts are its signature glazed earthenware pottery with intricate floral designs. But Hala craftsmen also make woodwork (Jandi), hand-woven cloth (Sussi) and handmade khaddar, a natural fiber indigenous to the Subcontinent.
Typical Khaddi Clothes Found in Hala
Authentic Hala ceramic pottery, which is famous in the country, can be found in the Hala Bazaar in the centre of the city. The bazaar is home to multiple workshops, which are largely family-owned and have been in the bazaar for decades. They make dishes, vases, and decoration pieces of various shapes and sizes, with the same signature hand-painted designs. While the most popular colors for the earthenware are cobalt blue, purple, and white, those interested can also find pots and vases of red, yellow and brown.
Hala’s workshops resemble pottery yards more than actual factories or clearly demarcated studios, and each yard is divided into various sections. Some are used to stock the pottery and other earthenware, others are used for heat-treatment, and the front of the workshops are largely devoted to molding and painting pots. The potters live close to their workshops, and the community amongst them is very tightly-knit. Many of the craftsmen begin their work as apprentices who mold the clay for their elders and teachers, and gradually learn more sophisticated processes.
Molding Clay on the Potter's Wheel
Each piece goes through a long and arduous process, which involves about 20 steps per product, in order to ensure that each piece comes out unique and special. The clay is left to soak and soften in water before it can be shaped into objects, and is covered with cloth or plastic to keep it damp. The clay is then placed on a potter’s wheel or a special mold, and made into objects by the artisans. One of the most interesting, yet difficult part of this process, is that of molding the clay in the wood-fuelled furnaces and kilns. This is where the shaped pottery pieces are heated for about 20 hours, before the bricks are solid enough to begin the painting process.
The painting itself is beautiful and intricate, with most artists improvising their floral patterns, called ‘kash kari’ in the local vernacular. It is truly breathtaking to watch each artisan bring the designs to life using nothing but a paintbrush and some ink. The steadiness of their hands as they paint, rivals the sharp details of any machinery. Some artisans may even give visitors a pottery lesson, and allow them to sit in as they paint beautiful, kaleidoscopic images onto the clay, ready to sell or ship off elsewhere.
The Wood Furnace
Moving on, the Jandi or ‘lacquered woodwork’ is famous globally for its durability, delicacy and natural beauty, with beautifully mesmerizing patterns on them. One can find furniture, decoration pieces, and trinkets with these beautiful and vibrant patterns on them. The colors are often made by local women, and are added to the wood products for a shiny finish.
Painting Pottery
Similarly, the apparel produced in Hala is made with some of the oldest handlooms in the world, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The hand-woven cloth locally known as “Khadi” is made of the natural fibres of cotton, silk, and wool. It is 100% natural cloth that is not mixed with artificial fibers, and was once only exclusively for the wealthy, who could afford linens and wool. Khadi fabric has long been a part of the Subcontinent’s history as a versatile, durable fabric for both the summer and winter. Thanks to technological innovations, there have been improvements in the refining, dyeing and printing process, making it easier for craftsmen to produce work in shorter periods of time.
A Craftsman Working with Sindhi Jandi
Businesses in Hala start out as local handmade products made by skilled workers in the villages, who supply them to the local market or an intermediary. With the passage of time, the businesses expanded and the intermediaries helped to send the products to major cities in Pakistan. However, with poor working condition and little return for their expertise, many artisans do not want their next generations to continue this work. In order to prevent the loss of such precious cultural heritage, these artisans must be guaranteed better and more lucrative working conditions. They must have access to clients without the need of a middleman who cuts into their profit, and should be given incentive to keep working on their crafts.
Weaving Khadi Cloth
Sindhi crafts are famous and cherished throughout the country, as they are a tangible part of our cultural heritage and aesthetics. Sindhi crafts are not just sought after for their beauty and color, but also for their unique, intricate details that have been perfected by craftsmen for generations. These practices are worth preserving and acknowledging for sheer skill and hard work put into them. The roots of Sindhi craftsmanship come together in the city of Hala, located at a distance of 62 kilometers from the city of Hyderabad.
Hala is a historical place, with sites and infrastructure which predates the British era. The city an epicenter for the Sufi Suharwardy sect, which spread in the Subcontinent through the proselytizing by saint Baha-ud-din Zakriya. But Hala is most popularly known as the birthplace of Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, although Bhittai’s shrine is located in Bhit Shah, not far from Hala, which is thronged by his devotees. It is the only place where Bhittai’s beloved instrument, the Tambooro, is made and played in his honor.
However, Hala is famous for its Kashi artisans, who have been honing their craft since the Arab invaders of Sindh brought along craftsmen to make utensils. Amongst its most popular handicrafts are its signature glazed earthenware pottery with intricate floral designs. But Hala craftsmen also make woodwork (Jandi), hand-woven cloth (Sussi) and handmade khaddar, a natural fiber indigenous to the Subcontinent.
Typical Khaddi Clothes Found in Hala
Authentic Hala ceramic pottery, which is famous in the country, can be found in the Hala Bazaar in the centre of the city. The bazaar is home to multiple workshops, which are largely family-owned and have been in the bazaar for decades. They make dishes, vases, and decoration pieces of various shapes and sizes, with the same signature hand-painted designs. While the most popular colors for the earthenware are cobalt blue, purple, and white, those interested can also find pots and vases of red, yellow and brown.
Hala’s workshops resemble pottery yards more than actual factories or clearly demarcated studios, and each yard is divided into various sections. Some are used to stock the pottery and other earthenware, others are used for heat-treatment, and the front of the workshops are largely devoted to molding and painting pots. The potters live close to their workshops, and the community amongst them is very tightly-knit. Many of the craftsmen begin their work as apprentices who mold the clay for their elders and teachers, and gradually learn more sophisticated processes.
Molding Clay on the Potter's Wheel
Each piece goes through a long and arduous process, which involves about 20 steps per product, in order to ensure that each piece comes out unique and special. The clay is left to soak and soften in water before it can be shaped into objects, and is covered with cloth or plastic to keep it damp. The clay is then placed on a potter’s wheel or a special mold, and made into objects by the artisans. One of the most interesting, yet difficult part of this process, is that of molding the clay in the wood-fuelled furnaces and kilns. This is where the shaped pottery pieces are heated for about 20 hours, before the bricks are solid enough to begin the painting process.
The painting itself is beautiful and intricate, with most artists improvising their floral patterns, called ‘kash kari’ in the local vernacular. It is truly breathtaking to watch each artisan bring the designs to life using nothing but a paintbrush and some ink. The steadiness of their hands as they paint, rivals the sharp details of any machinery. Some artisans may even give visitors a pottery lesson, and allow them to sit in as they paint beautiful, kaleidoscopic images onto the clay, ready to sell or ship off elsewhere.
The Wood Furnace
Moving on, the Jandi or ‘lacquered woodwork’ is famous globally for its durability, delicacy and natural beauty, with beautifully mesmerizing patterns on them. One can find furniture, decoration pieces, and trinkets with these beautiful and vibrant patterns on them. The colors are often made by local women, and are added to the wood products for a shiny finish.
Painting Pottery
Similarly, the apparel produced in Hala is made with some of the oldest handlooms in the world, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. The hand-woven cloth locally known as “Khadi” is made of the natural fibres of cotton, silk, and wool. It is 100% natural cloth that is not mixed with artificial fibers, and was once only exclusively for the wealthy, who could afford linens and wool. Khadi fabric has long been a part of the Subcontinent’s history as a versatile, durable fabric for both the summer and winter. Thanks to technological innovations, there have been improvements in the refining, dyeing and printing process, making it easier for craftsmen to produce work in shorter periods of time.
A Craftsman Working with Sindhi Jandi
Businesses in Hala start out as local handmade products made by skilled workers in the villages, who supply them to the local market or an intermediary. With the passage of time, the businesses expanded and the intermediaries helped to send the products to major cities in Pakistan. However, with poor working condition and little return for their expertise, many artisans do not want their next generations to continue this work. In order to prevent the loss of such precious cultural heritage, these artisans must be guaranteed better and more lucrative working conditions. They must have access to clients without the need of a middleman who cuts into their profit, and should be given incentive to keep working on their crafts.
Weaving Khadi Cloth
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