A Fifth-Generation Potter Preserves Malaysia’s Vanishing Clay Craft Before Ponggal
The art of traditional clay pot-making is fading in northern Malaysia, but one family keeps the craft alive. Reguraj Devaraj, a fifth-generation potter, continues a 120-year legacy at Cheong Traditional Earthenware Factory in Kuala Kangsar, Perak. His work gains special attention each January, when demand spikes before the Tamil harvest festival of Ponggal.
Ponggal, celebrated on the first day of the Tamil month of Thai, centres around cooking sweet rice in clay pots. These vessels are valued for their natural heat retention, which enhances flavour, texture, and nutritional value. Beyond cooking, they symbolise cultural identity and heritage.
Each pot takes three to four weeks to craft, depending on the weather. The process begins with selecting high-quality clay, followed by kneading, shaping, drying, and firing in a kiln. Smaller pots are especially popular before Ponggal, as families prepare for the festival. Reguraj Devaraj not only makes the pots but also teaches younger generations through workshops. His efforts ensure that the traditional skills—and the cultural significance of clay pots—remain alive.
The Cheong Traditional Earthenware Factory stands as the last of its kind in northern Malaysia. While modern cookware dominates kitchens, clay pots endure as a link to tradition. Their role in festivals like Ponggal keeps the craft relevant, even as fewer artisans remain.
