Kirti Mela provides succour to ‘Thathera’ art

Neha Saini

Tribune News service

Amritsar, July 30

Four year’s after UNESCO’s tag of intangible cultural heritage, the ‘Thatheras’ of Jandiala Guru are still struggling for survival. Ever since they were featured in the coveted list by UNESCO in 2014, ‘Thathera’ community of utensil makers had hoped for a change of fortune.

“Sadly, things did not improve much even after the getting the coveted status. For most families in Jandiala Guru, continuing with the traditional craft has become a tough task as most youngsters are opting out of the family craft due to increasing expenses and decreasing market for the products,” said 26-year-old Gaurav Puri, a Thathera craftsman.

Puri said that the awareness regarding the utensils and their craft has increased over the years. Participating in the Kirti Mela organised by the Pingalwara society, Puri along with other craftsmen from the community are selling their products impressively.

“The demand has increased over the years, earlier we had no market at all besides selling our utensils to gurudwaras and some local shops. Today, we earn at least enough to provide for our families decently,” he said. The beautifully crafted pots, ‘thalis’, ‘gaggars’ (jug) and the unique ‘deg tamba’ (large traditional boiling copper pot), is still used in gurdwaras for cooking, are unique to the community.

An example, as he calls himself, for other youngsters of community, Gaurav left his job as a helper in a factory to take up the traditional craft of his family. “My forefathers and father had made utensils but I never took it up, until I was encouraged by Dr Inderjit Kaur of Pingalwara. I used to get a salary of Rs 5000 in my job, but today I make Rs 15,000 -20,000 per month,” he said. Yogesh Suri, a volunteer with Pingalwara, said, “The onslaught of cheap plastic and steel utensils has eaten the market share of Thatheras. The fact that these copper metal utensils are beneficial for health can bring more awareness regarding the craft. The festival has given us a platform to the community to sell their product and people aware about this unique art of making copper and brass ware.”

Both Suri and Gaurav agree that the recent announcement of Rs 10 lakh relief to the community by Navjot Sidhu does not change the situation. “Only the announcement has come our way but not the money. We cannot run from pillar to post to get help from government,” said Gaurav.