Demand for earthen water pots soars multifold in summer

The people of Noorpur Thal have started using earthen pots to protect themselves from diseases and to drink water cooled by the region’s natural moisture.

Traditionally, the locals start buying earthen pots, which are made from a special type of river clay, as soon as the region’s temperature rises every year.

With the onset of summer, large stalls of the earthen pots are set up at various shops in the city from where people from urban and rural areas purchase them. To make the beautiful earthen pots, clay is brought from the banks of the Jhelum river.

"I have been making pots for the last 50 years, which sell out immediately," said Muhammad Anwar, a potter associated with the local industry.

He maintained that sometimes, due to the high demand, it becomes difficult for him to fulfil the orders of the customers.

The special type of clay is extracted from the Jhelum river bank to make the earthen pots, he added. “Then I knead it and make it into a pot with my hands. Different types of designs are also used to beautify these earthen pots.”

Mohammad Safdar, a shopkeeper, told The Express Tribune that he has been selling earthen pots for the last 22 years. “I have to place my order in the winter. Then I get earthen pots at the beginning of summer.”

He further said that the number of earthen pots sold in the tehsil during the summer season often exceeds 20,000.

Muhammad Amir, a local resident, said the people of Noorpur Thal rarely use ice to cool water. “When it is very hot, in the region, the locals use water kept in the earthen pots instead of ice and refrigerated water.”

They are filled with water at night and placed under the open sky and the water is even colder than refrigerated water in the morning, which is used all day, he added. “Using this water not only encourages you to drink naturally cold water but also protects you from many diseases.”

Dr Saifullah Khalid, a pathologist, said that drinking water from earthen pots improves metabolism. This water does not have any hazardous chemicals as is the case with plastic containers, he added.

He further said that water from earthen pots balances the digestive system and testosterone in the body. “It also helps prevent cough, cold and respiratory problems. These beautiful earthen pots not only provide cold water to the people here, there is also no need to filter this water.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2021.