Longpi Kajui (Ukhrul), Sept. 13: It is celebration time for Longpi Kajui, a village in Ukhrul district of Manipur known for its pottery.

Its famous son, Shilp Guru Machihan Sasa, a master craftsman who put the hamlet on the world map, has been awarded a one-year project under which he is required to create five masterpieces and train five men and women into master crafts persons. The project is being funded by the Union ministry of textiles.

The project, which was launched at the village ground on September 10, brings happy tidings as the creation of five more master crafts persons could trigger an economic boom in the village. Brig. Harish Thukral, the commander of the 10 Sector Assam Rifles, graced the simple function as the chief guest.

“It is because of our potteries that we can send our children to schools and colleges. With the project, the village will have five more master crafts persons who will further train more artisans. This will certainly give a boost to the economy of the village,” Sasa, now 60, said.

Longpi Kajui’s potteries are one of the finest not only in India but also in foreign countries. Pottery is the second largest occupation of the villagers after agriculture. About 200 of the 1,000 villagers engage in the art that has been handed down for generations.

Longpi pottery’s claim to fame also lies in its raw material (serpentine rock that is available only in the village and not in any other part of the state), durability and eco-friendliness. The artisans crush pieces of the rock in machines, pound them to powder and then mix it with clay and water to create lovely pottery.

According to experts, food cooked in Longpi pots is tastier and not harmful to health.

Under the project, designer Sukumar Haobam, a graduate from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, will design the potteries and the selected artisans will make the potteries under Sasa’s supervision and guidance. The Shilp Guru has selected three women and two men from the village for the training course.

“I am yet to make the designs. But I am planning to make them on the lines of traditional pottery designs of the village,” Haobam told The Telegraph.

Sasa had won a national award in pottery in 2008 and was conferred the title Shilp Guru two years later. This is the highest award given to artisans. This award is given to only those selected from among national awardees.

“His products are very famous so much so that no trade fair in the country is complete without his participation,” said T. Rollee Vareishim, the assistant director (handicrafts), ministry of textiles, marketing and service extension centre, Imphal.

He was not exaggerating. In March this year, Sasa had attended a trade fair in Bangkok during which he got an order for 4,500 teapots from a Bangkok-based company, Baan Sukjai Trading Ltd.

The Shilp Guru is now planning to go to other countries to promote Longpi products.

His products include cooking pots, teacups, teapots, flower vases and other kitchen items and range between Rs 20 and Rs 20,000. These products are mostly sold in the local market.

As the demand for Longpi pottery is increasing and exceeds supply, the Centre wants to create more artisans par excellence.

“The villagers are happy about the project as it will create more master craftsmen and this can lead to an economic boom for all of us,” L. Jerome, an artisan from the village, said.