Modern technology may have transformed almost everything around us, but the humble earthen pot sold along Punjab’s roadsides during summer remains nearly unchanged from what it was 5,500 years ago. Clay pots discovered from the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation in Harappa resemble the vessels still used in homes across Punjab today.
Despite the availability of refrigerators, water coolers and advanced filtration systems, many people continue to prefer drinking water stored in traditional clay pots during the scorching summer months. Sellers say the demand for earthen pots has increased in recent years as more people believe water stored in clay remains naturally cool and is healthier than water kept in plastic containers.
Along the outer bypass of the walled city, rows of freshly made clay pots have once again become a common summer sight. However, the traditional vessel has adapted slightly with changing times. Many pots are now fitted with taps, allowing users to draw water conveniently without repeatedly lifting the lid.
Kewal, who has been selling earthenware for years, said customers from both urban and rural areas are purchasing clay pots in large numbers.
“People say water from a clay pot tastes better and feels naturally cooler. Many families now prefer it over plastic water coolers,” he said while fixing a tap onto a newly made pot.
Beyond being a household utensil, the clay pot occupies a deep place in Punjab’s cultural memory. It has served as a musical instrument in folk traditions, appeared in Punjabi folklore and poetry, and carried symbolic meaning in Punjabi philosophy. Archaeological findings also show that earthen pots were placed beside human remains during burial rituals in the Harappan civilisation, indicating their importance in daily and spiritual life thousands of years ago.
Punjab history researcher Ramandeep Singh said the most remarkable aspect is that the design and production method of these pots have remained largely unchanged for over five millennia.
“The discovery of the potter’s wheel is believed to have taken place in the Indus Valley Civilisation. Before that, clay utensils were shaped entirely by hand. The fast-spinning wheel enabled potters to create perfectly rounded vessels with greater precision,” he explained.
He added that the technique of baking clay utensils in intense fire to harden them was also developed in ancient Punjab, making pottery one of the region’s oldest surviving crafts.
For many buyers, the clay pot is not merely a traditional object but also an affordable and practical solution during harsh summers. Malkiat Singh, who was purchasing a tap-fitted pot from a roadside stall, said that although he owns a refrigerator, he still prefers drinking water from an earthen pot. Smiling as he carried the vessel home, he called the tap-fitted clay pot “the refrigerator of the poor.”
