Pattachitra of Odisha: The Living Painting Tradition of Raghurajpur

Odisha has a rich and living tradition of painting stretching from prehistoric rock art to contemporary canvas. At the heart of this tradition lies Pattachitra — the ancient cloth painting art that has survived centuries and continues to thrive in the village of Raghurajpur near Puri.

Pattachitra: The Traditional Art

What is Pattachitra?

The word ‘Pattachitra’ derives from Patta (cloth/canvas) and Chitra (picture). It is done on a special handmade canvas called Pati, prepared by pasting together layers of cloth. The artists who practice this art are known as Chitrakaras — a hereditary community of painters.

Canvas Preparation

The canvas (Patas) is prepared by coating cloth with a mixture of chalk and tamarind seeds, which gives it a leathery finish suitable for detailed painting with natural colours.

Themes and Subjects

• Jagannath cult — The most common theme; depictions of the trinity

• Radha-Krishna legend — Familiar episodes from Bhagavata Purana

• Nabagunjara — A fascinating mythical animal composed of parts of nine creatures:

Tiger + Lion + Bull + Peacock + Snake + Parrot + Cock + Elephant + Man

Raghurajpur: The Artist Village

The traditional Pattachitra painters are primarily clustered in and around Puri, particularly in Raghurajpur village — which has become internationally famous as a heritage craft village where almost every household practices this art.

Related Art Forms

Ganjappa — Painted circular playing cards in sets of 96, executed in vigorous folk style. These charming traditional miniature paintings were once a popular pastime.

Chitrapothi — Illustrated palm-leaf manuscripts etched with an iron pen or stylus. This art dates back to the medieval period. Many specimens are preserved in the State Museum at Bhubaneswar.

Folk and Tribal Painting Traditions

Rural Folk Paintings

Jhoti/Chita — Floor and wall paintings using rice-paste (finger as brush):

• Drawn for Laxmi Puja during harvest

• Floral designs (especially paddy stalks), peacock, creepers

• Also made for Khudurukuni, Dussera, Kartika festivals, and marriages

Muruja — Ground paintings using five coloured powders:

• White = powdered rice or chalk

• Black = burnt coconut shells

• Yellow = turmeric powder

• Green = dried and powdered leaves

• Red = powdered brick

• Sprinkled using two fingers of the right hand; done especially in the month of Kartika

Tribal Paintings

Tribe | Painting Name | Features

Saora | Idital | Family deity; wall paintings

Kutia Khonds | Tikangkuda | Very simple designs

Dongria Kondhs | Manji Gunda | Wall decorations

Kissans | — | Samlai deity + agricultural themes

Paudi Bhuyan | Jhanjira | Focus on agriculture

Juang | — | Animals, birds, flowers

Santhal | — | No paintings; polish walls with coloured earth

All tribal paintings are intimately related to religious beliefs and drawn to appease gods and spirits.

Mural Paintings

• Sitabhinji rock (8th Century) — The earliest mural painting in Odisha; shows King Disa Bhanj leading a royal procession

• Viranchi Narayan Temple, Buguda — High quality temple murals

• Jagannath Temple, Puri — ‘Budha Vijay’ and ‘Kanchi Vijay’ paintings (12th–16th C AD)

• Dharakote — Splendid murals inside royal palace compound temples (~1900 AD)

Modern Art Movement

• Bimbadhar Verma (1901–53) — Self-taught master; ‘Palli Badhu’ (village bride on silk); ‘Godhuli Ragini’ (boy with flute at twilight)

• Ananda Mishra (Puri) — First modern painter; ‘Gaja Udharana Vesha’

• Sarat Chandra Deb (1901–72) — Tried to establish Utkal School of Art; Principal of Khallikote Art College (1957)

• Jatin Das — J.J. School trained; vigorous human forms; national-level artist

• Prafulla Mohanty — England-based; geometric neo-tantric style

• Orissa Lalit Kala Academy (1962) — Established at Bhubaneswar

Handlooms: The Ikat/Bandha Tradition

The Technique

Odisha has a rich tradition of producing Ikat fabrics (called Bandha locally). The term comes from the Malay-Indonesian expression ‘mangikat’ — meaning to bind knots.

The tie and dye technique involves:

• Tying/wrapping sections of bundled yarn

• Dyeing — exposed sections absorb colour; tied sections remain undyed

• Weaving the pre-patterned yarn into fabric

The earliest literary reference is in Jyotinisvara’s Varnaratnakara (early 14th century, Maithili).

Major Production Centres

Centre | Specialty

Nuapatna (near Cuttack) | Gaja (elephant) motif; Khanuda bridal cloth

Sambalpur | Sambalpuri sarees and bed covers

Bargarh | Ikat sarees

Sonepur & Boudh | Traditional weaving

Famous Handloom Products

• Bomkai sarees — Distinctive border designs

• Habaspuri sarees — Western Odisha tradition

• Berhampur cotton sarees — Southern Odisha

• Kotpad scarves — Natural dyed tribal weaving

• Dhalapathar curtains — Home furnishing

• Bonda tribal Ringa cloth — Woven from Kerang (forest fibre) on native looms

Popular motifs: elephant, deer, parrot, Nabagunjara, lotus, stars, creepers, kumbha, danti (tooth pattern)

The state has approximately 4 lakh weavers operating about 1 lakh looms.

Handicrafts

Silver Filigree (Tarakashi) — Cuttack

Internationally acclaimed for excellent finish, fine foil, delicate artistry. Centred at Cuttack where silversmiths produce elegant jewellery and decorative pieces.

Applique Work — Pipili

Internationally acclaimed. Craftsmen stitch traditional motifs (elephant, peacock, flowers) on cloth backgrounds. Products: garden umbrellas, wall-hangings, cushion covers, canopies, lampshades, bags.

Other Major Crafts

Craft | Centre | Specialty

Stone Carving | Puri, Bhubaneswar, Khiching | Temple-style art objects

Brass & Bell Metal | Cuttack, Ganjam, Kantilo | Dhokra casting; Deepa Rukha (lamps)

Horn Objects | Parlakhemundi, Cuttack | Birds, animals, lamps from animal horns

Lacquer Work | Nowrangpur | Lac boxes, bangles from tree-tapping

Wood Carving | Throughout state | Blending folk and classical forms

Terracotta | Rural areas | Kiln-burnt pottery

Tribal Crafts (by community)

• Kondhs & Juangs — Wood carvings

• Dongria Kondhs — Embroidery work

• Santhals — Musical instruments

• Kutia Kondh & Dharuas — Combs

• Lanjia Saoras — Carpentry

• Mahalis — Bamboo work

• Mankdias — Siali fibre work

Key Takeaways for OPSC

• Pattachitra = Raghurajpur (near Puri); Chitrakaras = artists; Nabagunjara = 9-creature mythical animal

• Ikat = Bandha = tie and dye; Nuapatna = elephant motif

• Silver Filigree (Tarakashi) = Cuttack; Applique = Pipili

• Tribal paintings: Saora = Idital; Kondh = Manji Gunda; Paudi Bhuyan = Jhanjira

• Sitabhinji (8th C) = earliest mural; Bimbadhar Verma = ‘Palli Badhu’

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This article is part of the DailyIAS Odisha Art & Culture series for OPSC preparation. For detailed revision notes, check our Notes section under ODC-03.