Patta chitras are miniature paintings, used as wall hangings with religious themes as their subject matter. Legends from the lives of Lord Krishna are mainly depicted on this specially treated cloth known as Patta.
Developed over the years, this art form has helped a distinct school of painting to evolve. Having its origin in Sanskrit language, the word Patta Chitra literally means a painted piece of cloth. This ritualistic art observes a fine blend of sophisticated art and folk element in the form of rich colors. The skilled hands of the talented artisans present blood red, red ochre, lamp black, yellow, white and indigo in a unique way as they pretend to be offsetting each other.
These pattas are carried back home by pilgrims to Puri as precious mementos. Practiced widely in Raghurajpur and Dandshahi villages at the outskirts of Puri, these pattas have become synonymous to the place.
Another famous handicraft of Odisha (Orissa) is also based at Puri. This implies carving a sand sculpture with just clean and fine-grained sand mixed with water. Attractive sculptures are carved out of this sand by the Oriya artists.Dating back to fourteenth century A.D. the origin of this art is associated to Poet Balaram Das, the author of Dandi Ramayan.Very eye catching and splendidly beautiful, this art form has gained immense popularity with the development of tourism.
The artists of Cuttack have also invariably contributed to enrich their tradition in the form of an art known as Silver Filigree. Owing its popularity to this art form only the silverware or Trakashi of Odisha (Orissa) is very widely known.
Thin wires drawn from beaten silver and foils are fashioned to make unique examples of artistic excellence. Forms of animals and birds, small show pieces, fine pieces of Jewellery and articles of daily use like vermilion receptacles are made by the filigree artists that are popular the world over.
Artists of Odisha (Orissa) create miraculous master pieces of art practicing yet other crafts too that are now not popular in India but across the globe as well.
Traditional Paintings of Odisha: Patachitras - The tribal, 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 stiffen it and finally finished with lacquer after painting, producing motifs in vibrant colours. Pattas are now used as wall 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 wild life 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 (cars) every year.
Palm leaves (Chitra pothi) have long been used as writing materials. An exclusive indigenous tradition of Odisha (Orissa), the craft of palm leaf manuscripts dates back to the medieval period. With the help of an iron pen orstylus (lohankantaka), 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 Mahabharat and Ramayan, 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, greeting cards and playing cards. Of late, the traditional artists clustered in the village of Raghurajpur, about 50 km from Bhubaneswar have revived this art from.
Originally, Pattachitra artists were settled by the Gajapati King of Puri to paint divine trinity on specially treated clothes 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 alongwith 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 paintings.
Odisha Tribal Paintings: 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 while the Santal paint the figurative designs. Wall paintings of PaudiBhuyan reflect about agriculture whereas the wall paintings of Juang include animals, birds and flowers.
