It's the festive season and it’s time to freshen up your lifestyle with some trendy stuff. While you want your fashion game to be on point, you must also show some glam in your house for your guests. With Durga Puja around the corner (or indeed at any time of year), Gariahat is a hotspot where one can find all they need! And, if you are planning to visit Gariahat, here’s something you can’t miss out on — ceramics.
Ceramic tableware and home decor items in Gariahat are unique and trendy. However, when we talk about ceramics in Gariahat, we tend to visit just one area – which is the entrance to Hindustan Road from Gariahat Road. There are about 3-4 shops on the footpath that have been selling ceramic tableware, planters, vases, pots etc., for years. But did you know, since the lockdown lifted, more shops have mushroomed around Gariahat that have some of the finest and latest collections. My Kolkata took a trip to these shops to bring to you the best picks.
Giri Gift House
(L&R) Hollow flower vases, (centre) teapot Jaismita Alexander
Located on 194/C Rashbehari Avenue is Giri Gift House, between a Mio Amore and Khadi shop, this little shop used to be an electric repairing and servicing shop before the pandemic. Amal Giri, an electrician, earned a modest living until Covid hit. The projects stopped flowing in and he had to think of an alternative source of earning. That’s when he turned his electrical shop into a gift centre selling mostly ceramics. “The demand for electrical services had reduced after the pandemic. I still take up petty electrical jobs, but they aren’t enough to run a household. That’s why I shifted to the ceramics business. These are much in demand,” he said.
At Giri Gift House, you will find all kinds of ceramic items from crockery to showpieces. There are trendy flower vases, pots, planters, trays and ashtrays, besides regular tableware. Giri informs us that these are sourced to Kolkata mostly from Kerala. Some also come from Gujarat and Rajasthan. At Giri Gift House, we spotted some exquisite vases for artificial flowers and microwave safe crockery. There were microwave proof kadhais of various sizes that can be used for both cooking and serving.
Top picks: Flower vase, ceramic kadhai, teapots
Price start from: Rs 300
Ceramic Store
Ceramic ware from Ceramic Store on Rashbehari Avenue Jaismita Alexander
With a huge collection of ceramics, this stall near Giri Gift House is situated on the footpath. The shop is more than five years old and run by shopkeepers. The shopkeeper has been selling ceramic goods for more than seven years. He tells us, “The ceramic plates, bowls, mugs, cups etc. mostly came from China, but now we get these from Indian suppliers.”
We asked him if he saw any difference between Indian and Chinese products. To which he said, “Obviously, there is a difference in quality. When goods came from China, they are not very long-lasting and very delicate. The price was low. Good quality, tekshoi (durable) crockery hardly came to roadside stalls – since we couldn’t afford it. They often were sold in bigger shops and malls. The Indian ones are of both high and standard quality, and they are more durable.”
Top picks: Soup bowls, serving trays, starter plates, tea sets.
Prices start from: Rs 250
Adhikari Ceramics
Bathroom set, tea-saucer and spoon holders at the Gariahat Road stall Jaismita Alexander
Gopal Adhikari has been running his family business for more than five years. Adhikari claims his stall on Gariahat Road, on the footpath in front of Tantuja, has been there for 15 years. It was first run by his father and uncle and now he looks after it. The well-stocked stall has a quirky collection of tablewares, soap dispensers, spoon holders, vases etc. “People love these owl holders, cups in the shape of the head of a woman or man. Dekhte o mojar lagey abar ektu onno rokom. (Looks quirky and unique). These aren’t very costly either. Many young people stop and buy these. They often ask for a box or something. So we think they buy it for gifting purposes.”
Top picks: Bathroom set, spoon holders, quirky tea cups
Prices start from: Rs 120
Shops on Ballygunge Gardens Road
Different ceramic ware at the shops on Ballygunge Gardens Road Jaismita Alexander
There are about three small ceramic shops on Ballygunge Gardens Road near the Gariahat bazar. These shops are owned by businessmen from Dumdum and run by shopkeepers. Before Durga Puja, these shops make some profit, but the shopkeepers say sales have been down since the pandemic struck. A shopkeeper, who requested to stay anonymous, said, “People come during this festive season because there are new items in the market. Otherwise, we hardly sell five items a day.”
However, the shops have again stocked up with new tableware and home decor pieces in the hopes of selling well in the festive season.
Top picks: Ceramic casseroles, curry pots with lids and giant flower vases
Prices start from: Rs 350
Stalls on Hindustan Road
Items from the shops on Hindusthan Road popular for ceramics Soumyajit Dey
We all know this spot with about 3-4 stalls that have been selling ceramics for years now. The shopkeepers claim that if you are looking for something in ceramics and you don’t get it anywhere in Kolkata, you will certainly get it here. From modern to traditional designs — tableware, pots and planters, showpieces etc. almost everything is available at these stalls.
Top picks: Serving trays, pots and vases, mugs
Prices start from : Rs 300