Khond tribe baked clay pots are one of the earthenware used traditionally among the tribes to brew and store locally made rice-wine. The pot has cultural and ritual importance to the community. Khonds are the largest tribal group in eastern India. They occupy the present geographical area of the state of Odisha, and some populations exist in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. They basically lead their lives in touch with nature, and material culture speaks about the sustainable practices honed across generations. It is a spherical body with a short neck and a circular opening, which is quite suitable for the fermentation of liquids. This pot has yet another very important feature that are engraved lines on the brim and neck. These are precisely carved by hand while the clay is still soft, and might serve to present both aesthetic and functional utility: for grip over the pot as well as signaling ownership/usage in some rituals.
The clay pot is made of locally available clay and shaped by hand and is baked in traditional open-fire kilns, timel-honed methods that toughen and strengthen clay. Porous baked clay is said to keep cool enough to allow fermentation, making it the ideal fermentation vessel for rice wines usually drunk at Khond festivals, rites, and community gatherings. Such pottery articles speak volumes about the Khond tribe's understanding of natural materials and their relevance in daily life while preserving Adivasi knowledge and cultural expression.