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title: 'How is a ghatam made?'
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date: '2026-10-19T14:54:03+00:00'
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summary: 'A ghatam is shaped from clay and sand on a wheel, beaten thin with a paddle, dried in shade and fired for about 12 hours.'
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  FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# How is a ghatam made?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 A **[ghatam](/instrument/ghatam)** starts as clay. In one Manamadurai workshop, makers mix pond clay with fine sand from the Vaigai river, shape the pot on a wheel, then beat the walls thousands of times with a wooden paddle against a stone held inside. The pot drops from about 16 kg to about 8 kg, dries in shade for about two weeks and fires for about 12 hours.



 

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