Rituals in Clay explores the long-standing tradition of clay modelling as an integral response to the religious life of Indian society. While Indian religion may broadly be viewed through 'Elite' and 'Folk' practices, it is the latter – embedded in everyday life – that generates a sustained demand for affordable ritual objects. Clay, therefore, becomes the natural medium, and the potter the key artisan who transforms belief into form. Terracotta and unbaked figures stand as tangible expressions of intangible faith.
Focusing on the Middle Ganga Plain, where terracotta traditions show remarkable continuity alongside evolving ritual practices, the book draws upon extensive ethnographic fieldwork and archaeological evidence. It examines modern clay-modelling centres, workshop practices, ritual compositions, techniques, and regional styles, and then situates these within the broader historical development of Indian terracotta.
By applying carefully framed models and interpretative strategies, the author identifies ancient ritual practices through excavated clay figures and their contexts of use and discard. Concise yet deeply researched, this volume brings together archaeology, art history, and religious studies to illuminate the cultural foundations of India's traditional clay art.
