In the picturesque town of Ukhrul, located in Manipur, time almost stands still. Abundantly populated by natural flora and fauna, the town is dotted with parks, peaks,caves and waterfalls. This beautiful town is also home to the Tangkhul Nagas, a warrior tribe that is believed to have originated in the upper reaches of Huang Heo and Yangtze rivers in China, and belong to the famous Mongolian race.

Nestled in this serene town is Longpi, which refers to two villages, made famous by the local, age-old pottery making technique, known traditionally as Longpi Ham. This exclusive craft is practiced by roughly around 200 artisans, who create gorgeous Longpi earthenware entirely made by hand! According to the local tribal folklore, they owe this unique craft and skill to Goddess Panthoibi, the mother of artifact-making.

Famously also known as ‘Royal Pottery’, till a while back these special cookware vessels were only used by royals, or the well heeled families of Manipur, due to its high prestige value. Deployed mainly during special occasions such as marriages or birth, their usage signified important milestone celebrations in the tribal communities.

Longpi Black Pottery: Process and technique Practiced by both men and women, Longpi pottery is unique. For one, it does not use a potter’s wheel. Made from a paste, in a three to one ratio, derived from Black Serpentine stone and weathered rock (found abundantly in the Longpi river banks), the artisans shape it with their hands and with the help of moulds.

Using the coiled method of making pots, the initial process involves a rigorous kneading of the Black Serpentine Stone and weathered rock mixture. It is then rolled out into a slab, which is given a cylindrical shape. Further, this cylinder is placed on a stool, while the Potter shapes it, moving around the stool, moulding the clay to form the pot into the desired shape. The cylinder is supported from the inside with a rounded stone. With the skill and experience possessed by these artisans, that are passed on through generations, the pot is created as per preferred shape and size, made possible by the delicate combination of external movement and internal pressure.

The Longpi earthenwares thus created, are then placed in a kiln that is fired for five to nine hours till it reaches the desired temperatures of 900 – 1200 C. Still hot, the earthenware pieces are taken out and polished with leaves from a local creeper, and the polishing finished off with beeswax.

The Longpi Black Pottery’s black color is courtesy these local leaves that are used in the polishing process, along with the constant firing that occurs in the kiln during its making.