Orissa Arts and Crafts : Traditional painting - Pattachitras

Traditional painting - Pattachitras

The trubakm the folk and the classical are the three streams of the Orissan school of Painting. The classical Orissan painting, Pattachitras is painted on a specially prepared cloth ( Patta ), coated with earth to stiffent and finally finished with lacquer after painting, producing motifs in vibrant colors. Pattas are now used as well hangings. The subject matter of patta paintings are closely connected with the Jagannath cult and the episodes from Ram and Krishna life. Pattas showing in scenes of Rasa Lila, Vastra Haran, Kaliya Dalan images of Lord Jagannath musical themes of eroticism, nature and wildlife and sets of ganjapa cards, small circular cards made in sets of 96 discs, executed in vigorous folk style are special. The traditional chitrakars ( painters ) have the honour of painting the Puri temple deities and their chariots ( car ) every year.



Palm leaves ( chitra pothi ) have long been used as writing materials. An ecclusive indigenous tradition of Orissa, the craft of palm leaf manuscripts dates back to the medieval period. With the help of an iron pen or stylus ( kigabjabtaja ), the artist first inscribes the text or design on the surface of palm leaves, then applies a paste of tamarind seed, oil and charcoal. When the residue is rubbed off, the groove stands out distinctly. Usually the legends of the Mahabharata and Ramayana, images of gods and goddess, the nature and wild life themes are presented. The visual effects are enhanced using the vibrant vegetable and mineral colours. Romantic figures drawn on small leaves now serve as book marks, greetings cards and playing cards. Of late, the traditional artists clustered in the village of Raghurajpur, about 50 km from Bhubaneswar have revived the art from.



Originally, Pattachitra artists were settled by the Gajapati King of Puri to paint divine trinity on specially treated cloths to be hung inside the sanctum of Jagannath Temple for the darshan of devotees during Anavasar ( retirement in seclusion ) when the Lord steps out of the temple along with brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra to mingle with the masses, the occasion of annual Rath Yatra. Originating from this tradition, this art developed and gained popularity.




The village of Dandasahi near Raghurajpur has been identified as another centre. Ananta Moharana and his son Panu Moharana together have added some new elements to Patta painting.



Tribal Paintings in Orissa / Odisha :

The tribal paintings are intimately related to their religious beliefs and drawn to appease their deities. Idital is the ethnic painting of the Saora tribe usually depicting everyday like along with the concepts of retribution, punishment and rewards. The Saora artists use right angled triangles to cast the anthropocentric world in different moods and emotions. The Kondhs paint the walls of their houses with geometric patterns, called Manji Gunda ( seeds powder) while the santal paint the figurative designs. Wall paintings of Paudi Bhuyan reflect about agriculture whereas the wall paintings of Juang include animals, birds and flowers.



Rural Folk Painting :

During the auspicious harvest times, the rural women worship the goddess of wealth, the Lakshmi. The mud walls of the houses are washed with earth and cow dung and are allowed to dry. Then paintings are done on walls and floors using the diluted rice paste ( pithau). These are called Jhoti or Chita. For each auspicious occasion a specific motif is painted by womed folk – a stack of paddy in Lakshmi puja, white dots super impoed with red during Maa Durga Puja, pictures of palanquin and their bearers carrying the bride, Kalasha ( water pitchers ), banaba trees, floral designs, using finger as the brush.



The muruja is drawn on the floor with powders of different hues, white is made out of powdered rice or white chalkstone, black from burnt coconut shells, yellow from turmeric or mari gold flowers, red from powdered brick and the green from dry leaves. During the sacred month of Kartika, women draw muruja designs near the tulsi plant with great dexterity. Various lines and patterns are drawn by delicately sprinkling powder held between the tip of the thumb and ginger of the right hand.




Applique Work in Orissa People:

Another art that is rooted in the temple cult, the appliqué work, Pipli, a town 20 km from the southwest of Bhubaneswar town is famed. Traditional motifs such as elephant, peacocks, fish, flowers and geometric morifs are cult out of brightly coloured cloth and sewn on to a clothe background, to form harmonious designs with embroidery work. The artists produce the chariot cavers used in the annual Rath Yatra, the giant sized unbrellas used in processions and the small canopies suspended above the presiding image of the temples. Large appliqué canopies are an integral part of the marriage celebrations, Garden or beach umbrellas, cushion covers, wall hangings, lamp shades, heart shaped wooden shields ( arasa), bags etc. are also prepared out of appliqué work. Red, Yellow, white and black are the traditional colours used and green is a modern addition. The bold appliqué work of Butapalli, Kahllikote, Tusra and Chikiti is also brilliant.



Orissa Crafts and Textiles :

The distinctive hand-woven textile of Orissa in unusual patterns and vibrant colours is a traditional craft employing thousand in this cottage industry. The state is famous for its silk Ikat weaves, an intricate process ( bandha ) in which warp and weft threads are tie-dyed, to produce the designed pattern on the loom while weaving. Typical design motifs include rows of Birds and animals, fish, seashells, rudraksh beads and temple spires. Sambalpur, Berhampur, Mayurbhanj and Naupatna ( 70 km from Bhubaneswar ) all produce a striking range in tassar silk whose brilliance, glaze and texture is unmatched. The rare silk fabric produced at Nuapatna in Cuttack district embellished with verse from the Gitagovinda is used to dress the idols of Jagannath temple. The masters are well versed with centuries old details of silk worm cultivation and also create silk ties, stoles and other furnishing and dress materials.



The other typical varieties of Orissa saris both in silk and cotton are Khanduas having elaborates designs and a gloss, Berhampuri Patta, the Bomkai cotton sari from Ganjam district with temple spire pattern on the border, the rich red Jotai ikat, with rows stylized trees and temple spires on the borders, the Kotpad from the tribal region of Koraput district is unbleached cotton offset by a vibrant red dyed border, the Saktapada, the Taraballi and the Bichitrapuri etc. The tribal people of the state also excel in producing textiles of myriad hues using vegetable dyes.



Metal Crafts Work in Orissa :

The ethnic art of Dhokra is a metal casting technique, popularly known as the “lost and found technique” practicised by adivasis in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts, the products are casted in brass by lost-wax process (dhokra ) with great skill from wires of bees-wax.

The dhokra pieces, usually figures of elephant, horse fish or tribal deities, decorated with intricate designs are collected as household decorative objects for their ethnic beauty and artistic ingenuity. Exhibiting a striking harmony of beauty and utility, the bell metal and brass utensils of Orissa find pride of place in the homes of Odisha. The brass fish of Ganjam, the beautiful lamps and stands, the bass figurine of Kantilo, metal castings (dhokras) of the Sithulias and the ware of Cuttack and Sambalpur are typical examples of Orissa’s Metal ware.

SILVER FILIGREE of Orissa :


An unique example of artistic excellence of Orissa is the best known metal work techniques, silver filigree, acclaimed for its excellent finish, fine foil texture and delicate artistry. Locally known as “tarakashi”, the threads drawn of strips of silver as fine as spider-web are woven by the silver smiths to create filigree ornaments, jewellery and utensils .Some of the designs are influenced by the mughals and identical art from Indonesia, testifying the art’s age old existence. Ornamental trees, brooch and pendant, peacock motif ships, Lord Krishna’s Chariot and the Konark chakra are some popular pieces of silver filigree work of Cuttack.


Horn Work in Orissa :

The craftsman of Cuttack and Parlakhemundi excel in skillfully fashion animal horns (mostly buffaloes) into stylized birds arrested in flight, animals of prey caught prowling, fighting bulls, deer nuzzling young, elephant rolling logs, pen stands, lamp stands and combs etc. Mstical, richly textured, delicately designed and bold in form articles are a class arts.


Others include Golden Grass Work, items like baskets, table mats, curio boxes and hats, the Terracotta images of gods and goddesses and household objects, artifacts made of coir fibre, mainly decorative animal figures, basketry, cane and bamboo products, beautiful objects of seashell and the Lacquered toys and Bangles.

Orissa Arts and Crafts :

The state of Orissa was also famous or referred to as Utkala, “ the land of excellence in arts”. A treasure throve of exquisite handicrafts, it also has a rich diversity of traditional arts forms. Look out for a village where the work is actually produced with great reverence and creativity. The art of early sculptures and the superb carving on the famous temples of Orissa, a glorious tradition which reached the zenith of perfection during the Kharavela and Ganga kingdoms is kept alive by modern craftsmen. The traditional tie and dye textiles from the western Orissa, particularly Sambalpur, the texture and designs, are matchless. The folk craft and village figures replicated in brass, bell metal and the silver figure work of Cuttack is outstanding. The brightly coloured wood carving of the deities and the paper machine masks come from Orissa.



The appliqué work of Pipili and the Patta miniature of Raghurajpur are the most sought after souvenirs. The state of Orissa offers a striking selection of decorative and utilitarian arts and crafts.



Carving is divided into again divided into two parts i.e. Stone carving and Wood Carving.



Stone Carving :

One is bound to get enraptured by a craftsman delicately chiseling the stone to create poetry out of it. Beautiful life-size statues of gods and goddesses and the celestial beauties carved from stone stone, Kochila ( a locally available hard stone), sand stone and serpentine stone, reflect the grandeur of a rich heritage. Smaller replicas of the temples and other votive objects, and the Konark wheel, the rearing horse bestride the fallen hero, the majestic statue recreating the slaying of demon king by Nrishingha, an incarnation of Vishnu art. Along with intircarely caved ashtrays, flower vases, lamp bases and containers of daily use are turned out by families in Bhubaneswar, Puri, Lalitgiri and Khiching.


Wood Carving:

Another age old carft of Odisha, the wood artifacts are plain and shining with smooth polish and without any paint or coating of lacquer on them, combining the harmony of both folk and classical form. The treasures include toys, human and animal figures, flower vases, pen stands, boxes, bowl made by craftsmen from Puri, Bargarh and Khandapara. The brightly painted articles are singularly attractive.



Paintings is another way of define the cultural and traditional view of arts and crafts of Orissa. Painting arts is basically divided into three major categories i.e. Rock painting, Tribal Painting and Rural Folk Painting etc. Below you can find the details of paintings.



Rock Painting :

You can find the Rock painting and pictographic writings in Western part of Orissa, Vikramkhol in Jharsuguda, Manikmada and Ushkothi in Sundergarh, Gudahandi in Kalahandi and Jogimath in Naupada district indicate existence of prehistoric art in Orissa.

The painting range from small geometrical and floral patterns to big animal motifs and human figures are shown hunting, fighting, dancing and doing domestic chores. Most on the walls follow a sequential, horizontal pattern. Coloured used are red extracted from iron, brown from copper and white from lime compounds. The characters of the pictographic writings appear to be a mix derived from Mohanzdaro and Brahmi scripts. The Ravana Chhata Rock at Sitabinji in Keonjhar district contains a painting of very high order, depicting the procession scene of a king riding a caparisoned elephant with soldiers holding shafts and banners, followed by a female attendant. This painting carries reminiscence of Ajanta murals. Splendid murals adorn the inside of the Jagannath Temple, the Buddha Vijay painting in the jagamohana of the Lakshmi Temple and the Kanchi Vijay in the Jagamohana of the Jagannath Temple.