# For Six Decades This Rajasthan Village Has Shaped Faith Out of Clay, Drawing Devotees From as Far as Gujarat > In Harji village of Jalore district, potter families have been hand-crafting clay 'Mamaji ke ghode' for nearly 60 years, and devotees offer them at temples and shrines once their wishes come true. **Type:** article · **Category:** Culture · **Published:** 2026-06-24 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/culture/satha-sala-se-mitti-men-dhala-rahi-astha-rajasthan-ke-isa-ganva-ke-ghoron-ki-manga-gujarat-taka-2692 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Harji village, Mamaji ke ghode, Jalore, clay horses, Rajasthan folk art, potter tradition, Aahor tehsil Harji village in Rajasthan's Jalore district is far more than a dot on the map. It is a living heritage moulded out of clay and bound up with faith. Located in the Aahor tehsil, the village has been known for nearly 60 years for its 'Mamaji ke ghode', the clay horses. These figures are not just pieces of craft but symbols of devotion and belief, which people offer at temples and shrines once a vow they made has been fulfilled. Around seven potter families still keep this tradition alive in the village. What sets the work apart is that no modern machine is used to make these horses. They take shape purely from the labour of skilled hands and years of experience, which is exactly why their form and colouring stand out from anything else. A single horse can take several days to complete, and the whole process demands both patience and a careful eye. ## How a Mamaji horse takes shape According to craftsman Pukhraj Prajapat, the clay is brought in first and kneaded thoroughly until it is ready. The horseshoes are then prepared outside the village. After that, the different parts of the horse are moulded separately in their own shapes and joined together to build the complete figure. The horse is then fired properly and finally painted. Once it is ready, devotees travel from far and wide to carry one home. In different regions the horses are worshipped as Mamaji, Jhunjharji or Mallinathji, and they are named accordingly. Prajapat added that tourists from America once took these clay horses back with them, which earned this folk art an international recognition as well. ## Demand that stretches from Jalore to Gujarat The appeal of these horses is not confined to Jalore district. Devotees arrive here from Barmer, Balotra, Sirohi and several nearby areas, as well as from Gujarat. People who place their faith in the folk deity Mamaji buy the horses from here and offer them when their wishes are granted. This is why the tradition of Harji village has continued unbroken for years and remains just as strong today. ## A legacy carried across generations Craftsman Ramlal says his family has been doing this work for generations. The horses he makes are sent not only to Jalore, Barmer, Balotra and Sirohi but all the way to Gujarat. People make a vow and, when it is fulfilled, come here to take a horse away. That has become the village's true identity. For the artisans here, this is not merely a source of livelihood but also their tradition and cultural identity. At a time when machines have left many traditional crafts behind, the craftsmen of Harji village continue to keep this heritage alive with the skill of their own hands. ## What this means for you - **Across India:** In an age of machines, this hand-made folk craft is worth knowing for travellers and art lovers who seek out indigenous handicrafts and faith-linked traditions. - **In Jalore (Rajasthan):** For Harji village's seven potter families, these horses mean both livelihood and identity, and the demand stretching from Jalore to Gujarat supports the income of local artisans. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. What is Harji village known for? Harji village in the Aahor tehsil of Jalore district has been known for nearly 60 years for making the clay 'Mamaji ke ghode'. ### 2. Why are the Mamaji horses offered? People who have faith in the folk deity Mamaji buy these horses and offer them at temples and shrines once their vow has been fulfilled. ### 3. How are these horses made? The clay is kneaded first, horseshoes are prepared outside the village, then the horse's parts are moulded separately and joined, after which it is fired and finally painted. ### 4. How many families still do this work? Around seven potter families in the village still keep the tradition alive without using any modern machine. ### 5. Where does the demand for these horses come from? Devotees come from Barmer, Balotra, Sirohi and nearby areas, as well as from Gujarat, to take the horses home. ### 6. By what names are these horses worshipped? In different regions they are worshipped as Mamaji, Jhunjharji or Mallinathji, and they are named accordingly. ### 7. How long does it take to make one horse? A single horse can take several days to finish, as the entire process demands both patience and careful attention. ## Inspiration & Lessons - **Hold on to your skill:** Despite the rise of machines, Harji's artisans never abandoned handwork, and that is exactly what keeps their craft unique. - **Patience is the real asset:** A single horse takes several days to finish, a reminder that good work is built on patience, not haste. - **Pass the tradition down generations:** Ramlal's family has carried this work across generations, showing that a legacy survives only when it is handed forward. - **Blend faith with work:** These craftsmen turned their trade into a cultural identity rather than just an income, which gives their work deeper meaning. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. 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