While crossing the City Corporation Bazar at the capital's Rayer Bazar, one would be amazed to see a large number of miniature earthen elephants, horses, tigers and monkeys on display in front of shops there.

They are individually crafted and of bright colours. With Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla calendar, just a few days away, potters at Rayer Bazar put up a dazzling display of earthen items like jugs, plates, glasses, vases, toys and statues of animals like tigers, elephants, horses at their shops.

The place, once known as Paul Para or Kumar Para (a neighbourhood of potters), is now abuzz with shoppers.

Goshai Das Paul, owner of a store at Akhra Mandir, said, “Paul Para has a tale of potters to tell. The entire area used to have a festive look ahead of occasions like Eid, Durga Puja and Baishakh.”

Even immediately after the Liberation War, he said, potters from West Dhanmondi to Mohammadpur bus stand area used to pass busy days making fancy earthen items. “But now there are only 5-6 pottery shops in the entire area.”

“Those days, Paul families used to make the earthen items. They used to collect clay from a river that ran through Rayer Bazar. But now it's all history, as many families have moved away or left the profession. Now we bring the items from Tangail, Gazipur and Barisal ... ,” said the 57-year-old man.

The families left their ancestral profession as it became unprofitable with plastic and aluminium products flooding the markets, he said.

Another trader Goshai Das said, “Although it's an unprofitable trade, I'm still in it out of my love for our roots.”

“Nowadays, pottery shops can be seen at different parts of Dhaka city thanks to the people who still care about our cultural heritage,” he said.

Firoj, a trader on Dhanmondi Road-8, said the sale of earthen plates soars ahead of Pahela Baishakh as many want to use those for having panta-ilish.

Talking to The Daily Star, a sales executive of Aarong near Asadgate intersection said, “Our sale [of earthen items] is high as people now use clay items extensively for home decorations.”

A woman who works in Bangladesh Betar and was buying earthen items near Shishu Academy said she had been using earthen plates, glasses and jugs for a long time.