Arts and Crafts Map of Odisha

Odisha is one of the ancient cities of India. Apart from being world-famous for its tourist destinations, such as the Jagannath temple, the Chilika lake and the Konark Sun temple, Odisha’s rich history is also quite apparent in its classical language, classical dance and festivals like Rath Yatra, Durga Puja, and captivating aesthetics. Let us explore some of the arts and crafts of this remarkable land:

Explore the heritage village of Raghurajpur here:

Pipli Applique

The village of Pipli, near Bhubaneswar, is home to talented handicrafters who have inherited the art of creating vivid artworks using multi-coloured fabric. The word applique comes from the French term for crafting multi-colored pieces of cloth into various motifs and stitching them onto a base fabric. Apart from making canopies, banners, umbrellas and other time-honoured items associated with ceremonies and processions around Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra and Goddess Subhadra, the traditional artisans have superbly adapted themselves to making utility items as per the demands of the modern times. Pipli art is no ordinary craft, it is a testament to an age-old legacy and the devotion to Lord Jagannath. The applique works were highly patronised by the royalties of Odisha and  reached its zenith under their patronage. Sun and Rahu, half-moon, parrots, peacocks, elephants, and creepers are some of the recurring symbols and elements that add a characteristic appeal to the Pipli appliques.

Jungle: Pipli Applique by Purna Chandra Ghosh

Pattachitra

The iconic Pattachitra is one of the most  prized and popular art forms cherished for centuries. The term Pattachitra comes from two expressions, Patta (meaning cloth) and Chitra (meaning image). Traditionally, Pattachitra paintings are done on thinly woven cotton fabrics. 

These devotional scroll-paintings are made by the Chitrakar community of Odisha who are often Sutradharas by caste. Using natural dyes and colours such as tamarind seeds, lakaha (lacs), haritali (yellow stone), and hingula (red ochre), intricate details around Hindu Gods, folklore, and epic themes are crafted. Shri Krishna Leela (stories from Krishna’s life), Krishna Janam (Krishna’s birth), Dola Yatra and Rath Yatra (the chariot festivals of Odisha) are some of the frequent themes presented in this style. Pattachitra paintings, with all their symbols and motifs, are richly textured.

Watch an Odisha Pattachitra painting tutorial here:

Pattachitra by Purusottam Swain

Bhitti Chitra

In its depiction of religious themes, Bhittichitra is quite like Pattachitra. Bhittichitra is one of the highly treasured murals of India. It is a form of painting made on the walls of temples and specific walls of mud houses. These aesthetic murals were made painstakingly by the Chitrakar community of Raghurajpur village, who are experts at giving attention to the minute details. Pointed features, detailed cultural landscapes, ornamented and regal designs, and the use of natural red and black against the white canvas are some of the prominent properties of Bhittichitra art of Odisha. Since its inception, the art of Bhittichitra has always aimed to tell stories engagingly, offering onlookers a cinematic experience.

Bittichitra. Source: Dsource

Saura Painting

The Saura tribes of Odisha are known for their signature murals. These paintings are significant not only because of their attention to the finer details but also because they serve as reflections of their native tradition and lifestyle. It is pertinent to acknowledge that these murals are done on specific occasions and are not traditionally made for the sake of decoration or entertainment. Linja Suara, those inhabiting Southern Odisha, possess a distinctive trait of making symbolic icons. Besides the dominant white colour, chrome, yellow, red, ultramarine, and black are some of the other central colours used in Saura paintings. One of the main themes of Saura is called Ittal, which is a house represented by circles. The motifs of Saura murals revolve around myriad subjects such as averting diseases, ensuring easy childbirth, honouring the dead, and representing hills and shrines among others.

Saura painting by Apindra Swain 

Jhoti Chita

Drawn on the threshold of the house during special ceremonies and festivals, Jhoti Chita art is the embodiment of profound meanings within its socio-cultural context. These motif-laden rangoli art are typically drawn by the women of the household usually during the occasions of childbirth, marriage, Lakshmi Puja, Karthika, Manabasa and other ritualistic ceremonies. The rangolis are made using a semi-liquid paste of rice flour. Jhoti Chita created by the villagers during the festival of Manabasa Guraba which is celebrated during the month of Margasira (between November and October) is made to appease Goddess Lakshmi. Lotus, conch shells, wheels, and gada are among the prominent motifs of Jhoti Chita. The traditional prints and motifs of Jhoti Chita are not only an essential part of the decorations made on the mud walls and floor paintings but also of tribal saree prints.

 Jhoti Chita

Sand Art

Odisha’s sand art festival is integral to the state’s cultural tapestry. This 5-day festival is celebrated every year from the 1st to the 5th of December, during which as many as 30 Indian and 10 foreign artists participate. This highly anticipated art festival was started in 2011 on the Chandrabhaga beach, a short distance from Konark. As far as the themes and topics of sand sculpture are concerned they are quite diverse and encompass a wide-ranging spectrum. These include mythological narratives, themes from epic texts, nature-inspired concepts, and contemporary issues. Sand artist, Sudarshan Patnaik has garnered global recognition for his expertise and artistic skill within this field of art. 

Sand art by Sudarsan Pattnaik. Source: Incredibleorissa

Stone Carving

The meticulous and labour-intensive art of stone carving in the ancient cities of Konark and Bhubaneswar dates back to the 13th century. The Sun temple of Konark, the stupas and monasteries in Udayagiri, and the ruins of Ratnagiri are some of the important storehouses of the earliest stone craft practised in this land. Those interested in watching the artists create stone sculptures can stop by the Raghunath Mohapatra Art and Craft Museum. In today’s time, the Odishian craftsmanship of stone carving is still a testament to the expertise passed down from ancestral times. 

 Konark Sun Temple. Source: Odishatourism

Metal Craft

Odisha is a hub for Dhokra craft, which is one of the oldest forms of metal casting, as well as other metal crafts. Besides Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh are other centres known for Dhokra art. The Dhokra casting is essentially a folk art for which the lost wax technique is used. This craft is especially practised in the southwest region of Odisha. Stunning designs and light weight are quintessential to the metal craft practised by the Kansari community. Brass and other non-ferrous metals are used by the artisans of the Kansari community to create traditional items and jewellery. Behrampur, Bellaguntha, Chandanpur, and Phulbani are hubs of the regional metalworkers.

Watch the legacy of Dhokra craft here:

Odisha Dhokra by Kunal Rana

Chandi Tarakasi / Silver Filigree

Cuttack, or the “Silver City'' has earned wide recognition for its silver ornaments. The silver ornaments are extraordinary for many reasons. Firstly, a very distinctive approach is adopted in their creation. Delicate silver wires are methodically utilised to create designs, these designs are referred to as silver filigree and the process of creating them is termed as Tarakasi. This centuries-old tradition of creating silver filigree is not only intricate but also layered and labour-intensive. The process starts with the melting of thick bricks of silver using a machine, these wires are further burnt, bent, twisted and given desired shapes by the silversmiths. These silver ornaments are mostly created in the small workshops of the karigars. These pieces of jewellery are worn by the Odissi dancers and are equally a part of bridal adornments.

Silver Filigree. Source: ThebetterIndia

Talapatracharita/ Palm leaf painting

Another captivating craft of Odisha is the Talapatra Chitra. The word Talapatra stands for palm leaves and Chitra means painting. Therefore, Talapatra Chitra translates to the art of painting on palm leaves. For the process of creating Talapatra Chitra, palm leaves are first sun-dried, treated with turmeric and smoothened. The desired framework is carefully created using a sharp tool. It is then coloured using natural dyes and pigment. The Chitrakars of Talapatra Chitra not only are capable of enlivening their artworks using a rich colour palette but are also capable of creating a wide range of designs. Some of the devotional and religious elements that are frequently drawn include the paintings depicting Vishnu, Ganesh, Radha and Krishna. In earlier times, dried palm leaves were a highly sought-after medium for manuscripts.

Talapatra by Apindra Swain

Golden Grass Craft 

The golden-yellow variety of reed, locally known as Kaincha is a common raw material for locals of the region. Today, the usage of this grass is not only limited to making baskets and grass mats, but also in crafting utility items such as coasters, wall hangings, lampshades, boxes, and trays. What makes these objects interesting is that they are made from just one item, the Kaincha. The farm workers and craftspeople excel in the art of manoeuvring and shaping the golden grass with the help of simple tools like scissors. Extremely economical and bio-friendly, these craft items are also seen in urban markets.

Sikki Craft. Source: Dsource

Odisha Ikat

The traditional textiles reflect the socio-cultural ethos of Odisha. Odisha’s Ikat, also known as Baandha are created using a tie and dye method, and are quite different from the Bandhej sarees of Gujarat. The designs are created on the loom by tie-dying the wrap and the weft before weaving. Both the western and the eastern regions of Odisha practise the same craft of weaving. This craft encompasses a variety of designs.  Some of the popular  designs are:

1. Sambalpuri Ikat- This bandhani incorporates a range of Indigenous motifs such as shankh (shell), chakra (wheel), and pushpa (flowers).
2. Bomkai- A traditional Bomkai saree has patterns in red, black and white. Its uniqueness lies in the tribal motifs featured on the loose end of the saree, the pallu.
3. Behrampuri Paata- It is known for its unique temple designs. Another remarkable fact about the Behrampuri Paata is that it is draped around Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra and Devi Subhadra in the Jagannath temple of Puri.

Odisha Ikkat. Source: Atelierom blogspot

Paper Mache

Colourful in appearance and decorated with designs, the paper mache items of Odisha are worth admiring. These paper mache products are normally bought as souvenirs. Not only are they visually appealing but also extremely bio-friendly. These masks and models are created out of natural fibres, papers and old clothes that are beaten into a pulp. The pulp is then combined with seeds and natural gums to strengthen the mixture and prevent them from termites. Out of this mixture, masks, models and toys are formed by skilled artisans. The designs made using paper mache closely resemble the patterns of Pattachitra and other locally crafted artworks. In a nutshell, Odisha’s paper mache items are sturdy, lightweight and chromatic.

Odisha Paper Mache by Keshab Maharana

Terracotta

The Rana community in the Bargarh district of Odisha is one of the significant potter communities in India. Their uniqueness lies in the creation of tiles with animal figures. These figures that are linked to the tiles are inspired by local folklore and sacred themes. For instance, the mouse is a symbol of Lord Ganesha’s mount. The figures are carved to bring good fortune to the house. Apart from these tiles, the Rana community or the Kumhar community engage themselves in making different decorative and utility products to sell in the local markets. They include pull-along toys, cooking pots, lamps, and pitchers, to name a few.

Odisha Terracotta. Source: Google Arts and Culture

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• ‌Metal Craft – Directorate of Handicrafts. crafts.odisha.gov.in/?crafts=metal-craft. ‌
• Baral, Prof. Bibhudutta, and Rashita. “Dhokra Metal Casting - Dhenkanal, Orissa.” D’Source, www.dsource.in/resource/dhokra-metal-casting-dhenkanal-orissa/introduction.
• “Metal Craft of Orissa.” IndiaNetzone.com, www.indianetzone.com/41/metal_craft_orissa.htm. 
• “Talapatra Chitra - the Paintings on Palm Leaves from Odisha.” Oriya Clicks - Your Guide to Odisha, www.oriyaclicks.com/talapatra-chitra-the-paintings-on-palm-leaves-from-odisha. ‌
• डागर निशा. “ओडिशा की 500 साल पुरानी “तारकसी” अब है विदेशियों की फेवरेट सिल्वर फिलीग्री ज्वेलरी.” The Better India - Hindi, 25 Oct. 2021, hindi.thebetterindia.com/tips/tarakasi-silver-filigree-jewellery-odisha/. Accessed 5 July 2024.
• “Tarakasi: The Making of Silver Filigree.” Google Arts & Culture, artsandculture.google.com/story/tarakasi-the-making-of-silver-filigree-dastkari-haat-samiti/1AVxVAl70Rj6LA?hl=en.
• Golden Grass – Directorate of Handicrafts. crafts.odisha.gov.in/?crafts=golden-grass. 
• Mohapatra, Prof. (Dr.) A. K. Das, and Shruti Sudha Mishra. Digitalizing the Sambalpuri Handloom – a Study on Undivided Sambalpur District of Odisha. Apr. 2020, www.academia.edu/50268167/Digitalalizing_The_Sambalpuri_Handloom_A_Study_on_Undivided_Sambalpur_District_of_Odisha Patnaik, Trishna. “Handloom Sarees from Odisha.” ESamskriti, 27 May 2021, www.esamskriti.com/e/Culture/Traditional-Textiles-India/Handloom-Sarees-from-Odisha-1.aspx.
• Bara, Prof. Bibhudutta, and Mr. Antony Williams. “Papier Mache Masks - Orissa.” D’source, www.dsource.in/sites/default/files/resource/papier-mache-masks-orissa/downloads/file/papier_mache_masks-orissa.pdf.
• “The Popular, Traditional, and Innovative Terracotta Products from Barapali, Odisha.” Google Arts & Culture, artsandculture.google.com/story/the-popular-traditional-and-innovative-terracotta-products-from-barapali-odisha-dastkari-haat-samiti/KQXxCOZDTN5dIA?hl=en. Accessed 5 July 2024.
• “Jhoti Chita.” IndiaNetzone.com, www.indianetzone.com/81/jhoti_chita.htm. Accessed 5 July 2024.