Shillong (Meghalaya), June 20: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited West Jaintia Hills Saturday to spotlight Meghalaya’s craft, faith, and history, from GI-tagged black pottery to ancient shrines and Jaintia monoliths.
At Larnai village, she met artisans of the GI-tagged Black Clay Pottery, known for its hand-moulded process and distinct finish. After a live demo of clay prep, moulding, and engraving, she joined the artisans to shape clay herself.
She praised their precision and urged stronger market links for traditional crafts, calling them cultural assets that support rural livelihoods.
Earlier, Sitharaman offered prayers at Shri Maa Jayantee Temple, a 600-year-old Shakti Peetha revered across the country for its spiritual and historical values
She then toured the Nartiang Monoliths, a key megalithic site of the erstwhile Jaintia Kingdom. At an exhibition there, she met weavers, farmers, and producer groups behind Meghalaya’s GI-tagged products: Khasi Mandarin, Memong Narang, Lakadong Turmeric, Garo Textile, Larnai Black Clay Pottery, and Meghalaya Chubitchi.
Sitharaman commended their work, noting that these products preserve the state’s cultural and farm heritage while creating local jobs.
The day covered three sites: Larnai’s pottery village, the Jayantee shrine, and Nartiang’s heritage complex. Together they showcased Meghalaya’s mix of living craft, spiritual tradition, and historical legacy.
