About
The art-form of Odisha's Saura tribe has hundreds of years of history. Saura, also known as Ikon, are paintings that date back to the epic period of Mahabharata and Ramayana. They are mostly done on red or brown clay walls that were originally inhabited by the Saura people and employ natural colours created from grains, flowers, and other natural materials. These paintings have carried the Saura people's history with them. Not only are these detailed and beautiful images a method for the tribe to describe and document their life, but they also have religious and spiritual importance for the community. In current times, the art form has been adopted to adorn clothes such as sarees and has found an overall decorative approach.