Molela: Rajasthan’s terracotta plaque art

patronised by Bhil, Mina & Garasiya tribal communities

30 Stades (Stades Media)

Molela village on the banks of river Banas, in Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district, is home to a little-known terracotta plaques tradition that has flourished for many centuries, thanks to the Bhil, Mina and Garasiya tribal communities from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Molela Murtikala or clay craft revolves around making colourful votive terracotta plaques of deities bought twice a year by the tribals.

Kumhar says besides Gujjars and Garijat community members from Rajasthan, groups of the three tribal communities from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh visit Molela with their Bhopa or the family priest, who selects the family deity. The priest goes into a trance and leads the procession to a nearby river, where the deity is worshipped. They then return and install the plaques in their shrines.

The most in-demand are terracotta plaques with idols of Devanarayan, Kaldeva, Gordeva and Nagaraj (serpent God), with each having a specific colour.

The tribal communities replace the idols in their shrines for two reasons – when an idol develops a crack or when a wish is fulfilled.

Mohanlal Chaturbhuj Kumhar Receiving The Padma Shri For Molela Terracotta Craftsmanship In 2012.

“The Idols Of Gods Or Any Other Figurines Made From This Clay Don’t Develop Cracks Easily. Clay From Other Ponds Does Not Have This Quality,” Says Kumhar.

“The clay in the two ponds is now reducing as it has been dug out by brick kiln owners. Moreover, fine particles of concrete have got mixed with the clay, adversely affecting its quality,” says Kumhar. He is now sourcing clay from some of the requirements from other areas but rues that the quality is not the same.

Jamnalal Kumhar Painting A Molela Art Piece

Artisan Dinesh Chandra Thakur With His Molela Art.

Molela Artisans Are Now Making Scenes From Daily Life On The Plaques, Used For Decorating Homes, Building, Museums & Other Public Places.

Contemporisation Of Molela Terracotta Craft: A Wall Of The Udaipur City Station With The Craft.

A Set Of Nine Molela Teracotta Tiles.