Date: 6-9 Dec 2018
Venue: Anandagram, Delhi

Come December, Delhi sees a conglomeration of potters from all over India and in fact the world. The Ceramic Fest is routinely held at Sanskriti Museum, Anandagram, Ghitorni in New Delhi during the first weekend of December every year. Ceramic Fest 2018, 6^th to 9^th December, 2018, just got over. We visited this event last Saturday with our dear “Kaku” and “Kakima”, the grand Mr. Pathak and the ever so kind Mrs. Pathak, for whom this was a first.

It was about 11 a.m. and the festival was still taking its first yawns of the morning. The interplay of the nip in the year and the winter sun made the verdant lawns of Anandagram a surreal setting for all the enthusiastic potters. Many of you may be thinking this is an arty crockery event. Well you are right – but partially. The potters from all over the place – Delhi – Pondicherry – Korea – Japan and so on, did make mugs, plates, vessels, jars and vases. But they also sculpted statues, made quirky pendants and earrings, wall pieces, chimes, bells and just about every conceivable object using China clay, potter’s wheel and a kiln.

The abstract man-head merrily shared space with the cynical owl. The wine bottle, shaped like a kitten didn’t jump at the fish tray placed beside it. Because it was a gala design festival in the air. The potters and the visitors seemed to have all the time in the world while brisk business took its own course.  We too couldn’t keep away from the lure of art and bought a painted plate from  our fav Andretta Pottery based in Himachal. We also bought some merry trinkets as they would make artful Christmas gifts.

Pathak Kakima and Kaku were in totally glee – like children in a candy shop. They bought trinkets, ornaments and small statues. A set of 3 ceramic dogs lazing on a wood board would be the gift for their daughter Nayona in Singapore. Their interest and curiosity about the process seemed to make the artists very happy.

Ceramic Fest had various other art workshops happening alongside and we saw an Ikebana demonstration here. Ceramic workshops and perhaps some cookery event were also in the offing.

According to Mrs. and Mr. Pathak, the Ceramic Festival was aesthetic and eclectic. They said it was the perfect way to begin the weekend. We couldn’t agree more. The happiness we saw in our guests while attending the event validates our belief that any form of art stimulates the senses. Ceramics in India is a still evolving form and it is cathartic to see how the artists grow over time and create a new language. Ceramic Fest at Anandagram tells this grand story and we love listening every year.