6 Laudable Crafts of Odisha

Odisha Global presents you with 6 other art and craft forms that are equally worthy and exquisite, displaying the rich and artistic heritage of the state that lies beyond the famous alluring Appliqué work, stunning silver filigree, popular Pattachitra paintings and now the surreal sand sculptures.

1.  Dhana Murti

Dhana Murti 

The assiduous art of making handicrafts from the unhusked rice is practiced in the Balasore, Koraput, Bolangir and Kalahandi parts of Odisha. Rice grains, bamboo slivers soaked in turmeric water and dried along with colored threads are used in making lightweight and spectacular idols and objects.

2. Chita

Chita or Jhoti 

The highly symbolical and meaningful folk art of Odisha is basically murals drawn with a piece of cloth or a twig dipped in white rice paste otherwise known as “pithau”. Usually seen in the auspicious month of “Margasira” this art form can be seen during religious activities in the state.

3. Straw Painting

Straw Painting 

Bringing together the elegant contrast of golden straws on a black canvas, this traditional painting of Odisha involves shaping flattened straws into various patterns and forming different images on a black velvet canvas. Practiced and promoted by Pradeepta Nayak in Jirala, a small village in Dhenkanal, the popularity of the art form is growing year after year.

4. Papier Mache

Mostly practiced around Puri, this incredible artwork converts waste paper, waste cloth, waste materials and different kinds of natural fibers into amazing artifacts that are strong and durable.

Papier Mache 

5. Santhal & Saura Paintings

Santhal & Saura Paintings

The peculiar and pleasant paintings of the most ancient tribe of Odisha, Saura are called ikons and are dedicated to their main deity Idital.  Red or yellow ochre Earth form the background of the paintings which is then painted using tender bamboo shoots with drawings mirroring their daily chores using natural dyes.

6. Lacquered Craft

Lacquered Craft

Tribal women in Balasore and Nabrangapur districts of Odisha make use of Lac, the refuse of an insect and mix it with different colors to create stunning objects such as bangles, fashionable necklaces and decorative boxes and baskets.

The varied and vibrant culture of Odisha is expressed in every art form, each unique and exuding a charm of its own yet the potential remains untapped.