Solapith - Craft of Odisha

Solapith is an intricate and beautiful heritage craft of Odisha. 

It is one of the 50 approved crafts of the Government of Odisha. 

Solapith is linked with Odisha's Shree Jagannatha culture and traditions for centuries.

How wonderful deities look when they use their special Solapith head-dress that gracefully sways as they reach their Rathas!

Source

The beautiful Tahia is made and used every year at Puri as the Gods dress up for their annual procession. 

The preparation of the beautiful floral crowns known as "#Tahiya" is nearing completion at the "Raghava Das Matha" in #Puri for the "Pahandi Bije" procession of the Lord Jagannath and His siblings tomorrow for #RathYatra #ରଥଯାତ୍ରା୨୦୨୧#RathaJatra2021 #JaiJagannatha #RathaJatra21 pic.twitter.com/vPG0IrI4sI

— Debadas Pradhan (@pradhandebadas) July 11, 2021

The deities wear Tahia during the Ratha Jatra.

#JaiJagannath #ThankYou
..So finally tomorrow we can all see the Lords swing wearing the magnificent Tahiya on Badadanda boarding their chariots..🥰😍🥰😍🙏
•Stories behind the Tahiya Lagi Besha-
When the idols are taken from the temple to the chariots for #RathYatra ritual,.. pic.twitter.com/OJ8YBKrmbV

— Akhil_AM (@dhruv__94) June 22, 2020

During Bahuda Jatra, they wear fresh Tahia. The previous one (worn during Ratha Jatra) is not used after having served its purpose.

ଆସନ୍ତାକାଲି ଅନୁଷ୍ଠିତ ହେବାକୁ ଥିବା ବାହୁଡା଼ ଯାତ୍ରା ପହଣ୍ଡି ସମୟରେ ଶ୍ରୀବିଗ୍ରହମାନଙ୍କ ଶ୍ରୀମସ୍ତକର ଶୋଭା ବର୍ଦ୍ଧନ କରୁଥିବା ସୁନ୍ଦର ଟାହିଆ ଗୁଡ଼ିକର ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତି, ରାଘବ ଦାସ ମଠ ଠାରେ ପ୍ରାୟ ଶେଷ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟାୟରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଛି ।#JaiJagannatha #BahudaJatra21 pic.twitter.com/lonDV8hJ5d

— Shree Jagannatha Temple Office, Puri (@SJTA_Puri) July 19, 2021

The deities also wear crown etc made using Solapith during different Besha -i.e. attire.

On this occasion, Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra are dressed up with 16 different traditional arm and armours. Both the sibling deities wear ‘Handia’ on their head, a traditional crown made out of solapith and wooden twigs. pic.twitter.com/FAb9qO0LC5

— sᴀᴛʏᴀᴊɪᴛ (@skkiddo11) November 27, 2020

Apart from that, Solapith craft can also be seen during the Jhulana Jatra.

The Puri Solapith Art is best reflected in the weeklong #JhulanaJatra ,wid huge, glittering arches fashioned of Sola. pic.twitter.com/UuWjSQz1F5

— Shri Jagannatha (@shrijagannatha) August 24, 2015

The boats used for Boita Bandana and Bali Jatra,, during traditional Kartika Purnima celebration of Odisha, also use sola.

Traditionally these toy boats are made out of banana stem and solapith. Then we place betel leaf, whole areca nut, gass, sindur, flowers, agarbati, a small ghee diya, etc and then float it. Now a days people are also using thermocol boats. pic.twitter.com/Zqg5QinEMF

— Santosh Kumar Rana (@santoshnitr) November 30, 2020

Also, Odissi dancers use Solapith Tahia on their head as a head-dress as a part of their costume and look so lovely.

Gümüş telkari süslemeler ve 'Shola pith' çiçekleri, Odissi dansının alameti farikasıdır. Gümüş işi, Orissa'nın Cuttack bölgesindeki benzersiz Cuttack telkari geleneğinden geliyor. Kemer veya 'mekhala' genellikle üç sıra halinde birbirine dizilmiş gümüş disklerle yapılır. pic.twitter.com/Yj1VUFJBdV

— India in Turkey (@IndianEmbassyTR) August 25, 2020

Sola mukuta (headwear/crown) has been used in Odia weddings for long. 

It should be further popularised & used by all in weddings. Photographs will look great! 

Idols of Gods, decorative pieces, garlands etc are also made using Sola.

There is scope for lots more.

Solapith of Odisha deserves the Geographical Indication (GI) tag. Application needs to be correctly filed with details about the geographical area, artisans, history, culture, production process etc. 

Why is this necessary? 

To ensure documentation and others do not copy or make unfair claims.

Plus, to ensure that Odisha earns due credit for this craft.

Saw this news in yesterday's Bangalore Times, The Times of India edition dated- 23 May, 2022.

Recently, “Sholapith” flowers were used as wedding decor for the wedding of 2 movie-stars from south film industry- Aadhi Pinisetty & Nikki Galrani on May 18 2022.

As per the report published in the Times of India newspaper:

“It’s actually a dying art form, practised by artisans from Bengal. The flowers are completely recyclable; they degrade as well and don’t spoil the environment.”

Sad that Odisha’s name is not even mentioned in news-reports.

How will readers or viewers know when information is not shared? 

Those who know and want to, can share the correct information.

Our artisans have to showcase in fairs and exhibitions and more media reports need to be published and shown.

Now Solapith craft is being showcased in national exhibitions (like a recent one in Bengaluru) in which Bengali craftsmen are selling it. In the absence of Odisha Solapith artisans in the same exhibitions, information about Odisha's craft is not known.

There should be Solapith craft demonstrations and workshops. 

Training is needed. More artists must learn and craft must get interest & promotion. 

Creations need to be available in shops. 

"Jo Dikhta Hai Wo Bikta Hai" - What is seen, sells.

Did you know about Solapith? Have you seen Solapith crafts before? 

Please share in the comments below.