Bareilly: As part of the Mati Kala Board Foundation Fortnight celebrations, a divisional-level awareness programme and Mati Kala Awards Ceremony was organised at the Mahavir Jain Temple premises near Sanjay Community Hall in Bareilly. The event recognised the craftsmanship of traditional pottery artisans while encouraging innovation and the production of high-quality, contemporary clay products.
A total of 16 pottery artisans from all districts of the Bareilly division participated in the exhibition, showcasing a wide range of handcrafted clay products and artistic displays that reflected the region’s rich pottery heritage.
The awards were presented by Bareilly Cantonment MLA Sanjeev Agarwal, who felicitated the winners with cash award cheques, mementoes, ceremonial shawls, and certificates of appreciation.
Bhanu Pratap from Shahjahanpur won the first prize and received ₹15,000, while Lokesh from Badaun secured the second prize with an award of ₹12,000. Vinay Kumar from Bareilly was awarded the third prize and received ₹10,000.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Sanjeev Agarwal praised the creativity and skill displayed by the artisans and urged them to focus on producing high-quality clay products suited to modern lifestyles. He highlighted the growing relevance of eco-friendly earthenware, noting that such products are safe, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. He encouraged wider public use of clay-based household items as an alternative to products that may have adverse environmental or health impacts.
The programme was attended by pottery artisans from across the division, District Village Industries Officers and staff from the participating districts, along with members of the public who visited the exhibition and several other distinguished guests.
The event aimed to promote traditional pottery as a sustainable livelihood while inspiring artisans to blend heritage craftsmanship with contemporary design and functionality.
The information was shared by Deputy Chief Executive Officer Manoj Kumar Gupta.
Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly
