Arts and Crafts of Orissa | Tour to Orissa

Odisha is a centre of rich art manifestations, attracting tourists, devotees, archaeologists, and researchers from various parts of the country. This is one of the most favoured destinations for many travellers far and wide, with the variety of arts and crafts in Odisha. This Odisha craft showcases a perfect fusion of religious themes, mythology and nature-inspired motifs reflecting the skill of the artisans.

Here are some of the famous arts and crafts of Orissa

Patachitra

This artwork demands foremost mention due to its uniqueness. Originating in the temple of Jagannath, the art form of Patachitra involves painting on a piece of cloth, clay plate, or tablet. The painting generally illustrates tales of Gods and Goddesses, lilas of Lord Krishna, images of animals, and legends. The artists are called chitrakars and use colours like lamp black, blood red, red ocher, indigo, yellow, and white to paint the patas. These patachitras are a must on tourists’ shopping lists.

Palm Leaf Painting

The ancient usage of palm leaf writing has been a famous art form in Orissa. Religious manuals, horoscope scrolls, invitation cards, and New Year cards are primarily created in palm leaves.

Applique

This is another form of Arts and Crafts in Orissa. It is most prevalent in Pipli, where pieces of cloth are artistically stitched onto a larger fabric to create a nice, colourful effect. Saris and wall hangings mostly display this form of art.

Carving and Metal Work

This is one of the exclusive forms of Arts and Crafts in Orissa. The former is created with soft soapstone and hard mochila and is shaped with brass and other metals.

Papier-Mache

The papier-mâché art form in Orissa is beautiful as it involves creating different forms, figures, toys, and showpieces made of paper.

Silver Filigree

Also known as Tarakashi, it hails from Cuttack and is another exquisite craft where artisans mould silver into delicate patterns to create jewellery and ornamental items. Odisha is also known for its Stone and Wood Carving, exemplified by the magnificent sculptures at the Konark Sun Temple and intricate idols.

Handloom Weaving

This is especially famous for Sambalpur’s Ikat patterns, a hallmark of Odisha’s textile industry. These sarees and fabrics are dyed using a unique tie-and-dye technique.

Sand Art

The region excels in creating sculptures from the sand, and this is one of the most unique forms of artistry practised in Odisha, particularly at the famous Puri Beach. This art form involves intricate sand and water sculptures, often themed around mythology, social messages, global events, or festivals.

Other notable crafts include Terracotta, Dhokra (metal casting), and Shell Craft, highlighting Odisha’s mastery of working with natural materials. These crafts serve decorative purposes and provide livelihoods to thousands of artisans across the state.

Some of the other famous Arts and Crafts of Orissa also involve some of the performing arts like: