Kulhar

Design Resource

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The Sanctum Sanctorum of the Indian household

Kulhar

This is a disposable earthen cup/tumbler. Kulhars are beautiful, in the most simple way. A kulhar holds about 7 ounces of fluid. It is used to drink hot beverages such as Chai (tea) or cold beverages such as Thandai.

Kulhars are normally not used at home. They are primarily used by street vendors or at social gatherings. Kulhars are made of local red clay and are half-baked, biodegradable cups. They are usually hand made by a local potter on a potter’s wheel.

A lot of people feel that nothing quite compares to drinking chai from one of these clay cups. Its primitive shape cradled in one’s hand and its warm dry rim on the lips accompanied by an earthy smell and taste, it imparts to hot chai strikes a deep cord inside. The earthy smell from these pots is absolutely mesmerising.

At one time, these were made mandatory in Indian Railways and were replaced by plastic cups. When Laloo Prasad Yadav became the Railway Minister a few years back he banned the use of the plastic cups and the first thing he announced was that Kulhars or clay pots would be used for all liquid refreshments on trains.

Different sizes and styles of clay kulhars

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