A few families in Odisha keep an exotic but dying art alive amid poor marketing and Covid.
The lac of the draw
Rooted to earth
It is that time of the year again when the 150-odd potter families including that of Gadadhar and Sarojini in Nuagaon village, located 15 to 17 km from Bhubaneswar, engage themselves in making traditional clay lamps for Diwali.
Handicraft Holidays in Odisha
Odisha’s rich tradition of handicrafts add colour to the landscape that is dotted with beaches on one side and forests on the other. Often centered on Hinduism and Islamic lore, these craft traditions have been an integral part of the State’s heritage offering an insight into its culture and geography.…
In pursuit of decking up dying cards
(From left) Pramod Das, Prashant Maharana, Gangadhar Maharana and Banamali Mohapatra (Photo | Shamim Qureshy) In the verandah of a craft centre in the quaint Raghurajpur village of Odisha, 70-year-old Banamali Mohapatra sits hunched on the floor applying thin strips of colour on a small black circular disc. His fingers…
Straw Wonders of Odisha
Straw painting of Holy Trinity At the backyard of his house in Jirala village, Pradeepta Nayak carefully selects delicate rice straw strands, separating the dark brown coloured ones from those having a golden hue. In a small room few metres away, a group of women are creating a massive painting…
Fish Tales Etched in Brass
It may be made of brass, but this fish can still flap a fin and touch its tail. The craft of making the flexible brass fish occupies a significant place in Odisha’s rich handicraft tradition. In the lanes of Belaguntha village in Ganjam district of Odisha, three craftsmen from the…