Three years ago, when friends and former marketing professionals Ishu Dhakras and Tulja Kedia visited Thimi, a village about an hour away from their family homes in Kathmandu, they were struck by two things — the refined pottery skills of its residents and youngsters conspicuous by their absence at the wheels. The Nepali town, largely inhabited by the Prajapatis, a clan of potters, once flourished with earthenware stacked outside each home. "Today, few families practise this craft because of the laborious process involved. The older residents worry that it will die due to the lack of interest among youngsters," says Dhakras.

Tableware