Raghurajpur Art Speaks...

Odisha is a very rich state - both historically, archeologically, culturally and with its mineral wealth. 

However, like many other states of Eastern India it is- uncared, unexplored, unappreciated...

Odisha is famous for many wonderful arts & crafts. Unfortunately, many people, even in the state of Odisha & in our country, India are not aware of the treasures...

 

2 months ago, my poem about Odisha Guess The Place!, and my Twitter Odisha Quiz made me realize that the OQ (Odisha Quotient) needs to be improved.

2 weeks ago, when to write my Indispire Story, I was looking for Silver Filigree of Odisha, I discovered to my dismay that the Odisha State cooperative Handicrafts Corporation, Utkalika, is yet to offer online purchase of such coveted crafts. 

Source

Ensuring online purchase would ensure that people all over the world would get to access and order our textiles & handicrafts that would mean a lot for our Tourism.

I wrote to the Tourism & Culture Secretary of Odisha, Shri Arvind Padhee :

Just a week later, Do Right & IndiBlogger presented an opportunity for us to complete the latest half-story... 

Here's the amazing video about the Raghurajpur artists-

I felt this is like a Genie  - "Your Wish Is My Command!" 

A website for the artists of Raghurajpur Village is a great step to help and empower them.

We have visited the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha where the interior walls have such amazing hand-painted art. 

 

 

My Mom, who had great knowledge of Odisha culture & history, always answered queries patiently and explained the significance every time we went. 

Pattachitra

The above is one of the first Pattachitra I saw in my life when I was a kid. 

It depicts Lord Balabhadra & Lord Jagannath as horse-men who encounter a local lady selling curd... 

Left to Right- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, Lord Jagannath

When I was in school, I learned about Raghurajpur- the village where every one is an artist...

The talented Raghurajpur artists in Puri, Odisha, India boast of incredible arts and crafts with motifs based on mythology, religion, folklore etc dating back to the 5th Century BC.

They create masterpieces- colorful art-works called Pattachitra and other works like tal chitra, silk painting, stone carving, coconut painting, betel nut painting, papier mache & masks, cowdung toys and ganjappa playing cards...

Despite their hardwork, blood, sweat & toil of many days and months by overcoming obstacles, sacrifices & challenges, the artists do not earn their true worth.

Their hand-to-mouth existence compels artists to sell off their artworks soon...  

Middlemen and touts pick up their intricate masterpieces at cheap rates and sell higher, thereby earning hefty profits.

Modern technology can greatly help to provide the traditional craft and the skilled artists of Raghurajpur a much-needed platform to showcase their art, promote and sell it without the interference of middlemen. A new website for Raghurajpur village that will profile all the families with their contact details and list their art work in their individual galleries, will help them to interact directly with buyers and interested people around the globe. 

We can help the artists earn the deserving fame, respect and right value...

Come, let us buy and gift Pattachitra paintings and help sustain the livelihood by filling the world of these Raghurajpur artists with the rainbow colors that they truly deserve...

We can also contribute & share this info by writing Blog-Posts and inform all about #OdishaPattachitra.

Contact here to order Pattachitra & other arts & crafts of Odisha.

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