The earthen clay pot of the Khond tribe is an heirloom of traditional vessel-making that speaks of the age-old practices of the community concerning pottery and their sustainable lifestyle. The Khonds are the biggest tribal community in East India, primarily settled in Odisha but also partially in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Their material culture is as closely tied to the land and local resources, and pottery occupies a central space in their domesticity and rituals. This particular pot has a large and spherical body with a short neck and a narrow circular opening-that wells suits the storage and brewing of liquids. It has the unusual feature of four engraved circular lines around the lower neck area, which may be both aesthetic and symbolic. These engraved patterns are traditionally made using simple tools while the clay is still soft, adding a visual texture that reflects the tribe's artistic sensibilities.
The pot is used mainly for brewing and storing rice wine or for similar fermented drinks, which form the core of Khond rituals, festivals, and social gatherings. The use of earthen material creates that cool temperature needed for fermentation and adds flavor and shelf life to the brew. Pottery among the Khonds is largely made by tribal artisans, mostly women, from clay found nearby, using local firing styles. These pots, thus, form only functional items but are also highly charged with culture and symbolism underlying the everyday life and ceremonies of the tribe.