Hello and Happy New Year to all! I kicked off the year by hosting the first meet-up of 2025, which also marked the start of the 10th year anniversary celebrations and the very first meet-up of the #HandmadeHeritageSeries. The gathering was an exciting experience where we got to explore the rich heritage of Indian pottery and see how artisans craft beautiful handmade pieces.
The meet-up began with a warm introduction to all attendees, many of whom were new to the Local Guides program. I took a moment to give a brief overview of what Local Guides is all about and how the program helps people around the world share knowledge about their communities. We then set off for a tour of a local pottery studio, where we learned about the intricate end-to-end pottery process, from shaping to glazing. You can check out the Blue pottery process explanation video here.
During the tour, we had a chance to try our hands at pottery-making ourselves! The experience of creating our own ceramic plates was both fun and challenging. As we shaped and molded the clay, the studio owner shared his journey of starting the pottery business, how he helped uplift local artisans, and how he now teaches at universities to ensure the art stays alive for future generations. It was truly inspiring to hear how passionate he is about preserving this tradition and passing it on.
While we were crafting, I engaged the attendees in a discussion about their favorite features of Google Maps. Apurva shared that she loves reading reviews and finds Maps reliable for recommendations. Meera mentioned how convenient it is to search for anything you need nearby. Nikita appreciated how Maps feels so local-friendly, while Anjali said checking traffic conditions before heading out is her favorite feature. Devansh, on the other hand, relies on Maps for all his travel planning needs.
Afterward, we had a fun knowledge-sharing session where I showed the group how we can use Maps to support local businesses in our communities and also explained them what Local Guides program is. We discussed how uploading reviews, photos, and ratings can make a big difference to small businesses and help them grow.
Next up, we dove into creating our own pieces of blue pottery art. With the guidance of the pottery studio owner, we painted and designed our own pottery, adding a personal touch to each creation. Once we completed our masterpieces, we shared our reviews, photos, and ratings of the pottery studio on Maps, answered a few questions on Maps to contribute to the online visibility of this fantastic local business. Here is my review of the blue pottery. The photos and videos I took during the meet-up are all on Maps of the Blue pottery Jaipur.
As a token of appreciation for everyone’s participation, I handed out small return gifts, a gesture of thanks for supporting the event and helping promote local artisans who are doing incredible work. We wrapped up the day by taking photos with our creations and with Mr. Saini, the owner of the blue pottery studio. Here is a quick video recap of our meet-up.
Summary of the Meet-Up:
- Event: First meet-up of the #10yearanniversary and #HandmadeHeritageSeries
- Theme: Exploring Indian pottery and supporting local artisans
- Activities:
- Introduction to Local Guides program
- Pottery tour and hands-on pottery-making experience
- Discussion of favorite Google Maps features and doing Map edits , giving rating & review , adding photos & videos of the pottery
- Knowledge-sharing session on supporting local businesses via Maps
- Creating blue pottery art
- Highlights:
- Engaging with local artisans
- Promoting the importance of preserving traditional crafts
- Supporting small businesses and encouraging the use of Maps to boost visibility
- Using Google Maps features like reviews, photos, ratings, and business updates to support local artisans and help them grow
- Takeaway: A fun and inspiring start to the 10-year anniversary celebrations, promoting #MakeforIndia and local craftsmanship through the power of Google Maps.