Photo Documentation: Patharkatti, Village of Stone Carvers, Gaya, Bihar

Patharkatti in Gaya district of Bihar, is known as Village of Stone Carvers. It has rich legacy of stone craft and has been the traditional stoneware centre in Bihar. It is also famous for its blue-black pot stone from which artisans craft Buddhist icons, images and household articles like the pestle, the mortar kharal (medicine grinder).

Traditionally the work was limited to the Gaud Brahmins who migrated from Rajasthan on invitation of Rani Ahilyabai of Indore. This craft was limited to the Gaud Brahmins till recently when in 1950-60’s Upendar Maharathi started a training centre to involve people from other communities.

Since its inception many local people have taken training from Ravindera Nath Gaud and the craft at its peak was spread in as many 10 villages. Presently the craft is limited to four villages and the biggest clusters are at khukari, Patharkatti and Tenbigha.

Here are some photographs of Patharkatti photo documentation project by Folkartopedia in December, 2018;