Kumbharwada is the potters' neighbourhood at the heart of Dharavi, where families of the Kumbhar (potter) community from Gujarat have been producing traditional Indian pottery for three to four generations. The district has around 200 working pottery units producing terracotta pots, planters, and diyas (clay oil lamps) in enormous quantities, particularly in the run-up to Diwali when demand spikes dramatically.
The courtyard-based workshops are some of the most photogenic in Dharavi, with potters working at traditional kick-wheels surrounded by rows of drying pottery and firing kilns. The community's Gujarati cultural life — music, festivals, language, and food — has been preserved in miniature within Mumbai's urban fabric. Kumbharwada is accessible as part of Dharavi guided tours.