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Arts and culture helped people bring together and appreciate each other through their diversity. It plays a major role in understanding, and lessons learned from these subjects were applied to learning positive behaviors and lifestyles.
Odisha is rich in a variety of handmade art since ancient times. Diverse, vibrant, and utilitarian, the art and craft of Odisha range from stonework, dhokra castings, pattachitra, paper mache, terracotta, tie & dye textiles in cotton, and tassar are the name of a few.
Historical Evolution of Art and Craft in Odisha
The roots of Odisha’s handicrafts trace back to ancient times when the region was known as Kalinga. Its strategic location fostered maritime trade, introducing influences from Southeast Asia and beyond. The craftsmanship of Odisha flourished under royal patronage, particularly during the reign of the Kalinga kings, who encouraged the creation of exquisite temple art and sculptures.
Maritime trades and patronage from different royal families had played a significant role in shaping the state’s handicrafts. The Jagannath culture, central to Odisha’s spiritual life, inspired many art forms. Artisans crafted intricate pieces for temple rituals, festivals, and pilgrimages, leaving behind a legacy that endures to this day. The medieval period saw the rise of organized guilds, further enriching the diversity and sophistication of Odisha’s crafts.
The Origin of Odisha’s Sambalpuri Handloom
The Sambalpuri Sarees were started by the Bhulia community with a unique technique of double ikat weaving. Though most of the facts were never documented, it is believed that the community had come from the northern part of India after the Moghul expansion. From the year 1192 AD to the year 1925, the art of Sambalpuri ikat flourished in Western Odisha with just a limited number of designs and consisted mostly of saris used by the womenfolk of Odisha that came in a few standard vegetable colors.
Now, known as Sambalpuri Saree or Sambalpuri Pata, these sarees were then called ‘Bhulia-Kapta’. Today, generations-old artisans in Bargarh, Barpali, Balangir, Sambalpur, Sonepur, and Boudh of Odisha make these authentic Sambalpuri handloom cloths and sarees, which are 100% hand-made from wooden looms. Sambalpuri Saree comes in many types, such as Ikat, Pasapalli, Sonepuri, Bomkai, Bapta, and Barpali.
Different Types of Handicrafts in Odisha
Handicrafts of Odisha have been loved and respected by the people and most of the rural population earn their livelihood from their pieces of art. Some of those are listed below:
Applique Work
Came from the ‘Pipli’ town of Odisha – a handmade technique that brings out colorful wall decors, i.e., called Chandra, and many useful products like bags, lanterns, etc.
Pattachitra Paintings
Pattachitra (Tasar painting) is a kind of painting on cloth. It originated in Raghurajpur-Odisha and is a hand art form that makes use of natural colors.
Berhampuri Silk (Patta)
Berhampuri Patta is hand-weaved by local weavers. The patterns used on the sari are very traditional, and temple-type designs; it originated from the city of ‘Brahmapur.’
Jhoti Chitta
Originating from the rural areas of Odisha, this traditional white art is basically made with a white powder called muruja or rice flour paste. Many different patterns are made by hand or cloth by the females here.
Sambalpuri Ikat
It is a technique of weaving fabric with traditional motifs like shankha (shell), chakra (wheel), phula (flower), colorful designs, and geometrical patterns. A few names of the designs are Bomkei, Pasapalli, Dhana Patri, Baandha, etc.
Appreciation and Demand of Odisha Handicrafts Worldwide
With over seven million regional artisans and 67,000 exporters/export houses, the Indian handicrafts industry is promoting regional art and craftsmanship in the domestic and global markets. Buyers from all over the world, especially the communities of Indian origin, are widely promoting hand-crafted organic artifacts and fabrics.
In August 2021, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Flipkart in order to promote weavers and artisan businesses through digital platforms and startup enterprises.
OdishaHandicrafts.COM, in association with these artisans, brings art and crafts of Odisha to the forefront so that artisans can reach more buyers, and buyers will get authentic handloom and hand-crafted products directly from the artisans.
