India, as an independent nation, is not one hundred years old. Yet, the area occupied by India is home to ceramic traditions going back thousands of years, and there is a visible resemblance between prehistoric ceramic figures and terra cotta creations still being made today. The history of Indian ceramics may not match the achievement of China, home of porcelain, or offer the rarified appreciation for ceramics found in Japan, home of the tea ceremony. But the ceramic culture on the subcontinent stands out for its breadth and depth and there is extraordinary local and regional diversity. Yet, throughout India pottery has played an essential role in ritual observances as well as everyday functional use.