Pattachitra Art Is A Hit At Rashtriya Shilp Mela

Pattachitra is a unique art form wherein scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata are expressed in paintings reflecting great skill by the artist. It proved to be a big crowd puller during the ongoing Rashtriya Shilp Mela organized by the North Central Zone Cultural Centre (NCZCC). The 2000-year old art form of Pattachitra has been carried on for generations in the Raghurajpur village of Odisha's Puri. The village has been declared a world heritage village by UNESCO. Artist Ashish Chandra stated that it is the skill of the artist that distinguishes Pattachitra from other art forms. The paintings draw tourists from all over the world to this village. However, young artists seem to be least interested in learning this art form as it requires enormous skill, dedication and time to learn it. He informed that these paintings are made on a canvas, which is prepared by mashing an old cotton cloth and palm leaves. When the canvas dries up, it is hardened using a paste of tamarind, turmeric, chalk and granite powder. The colours used in these paintings are made from coal, conch shells, turmeric, chalk powder, leaves of selected plants and soft stones. Most of these paintings are based on episodes from Ramayan, from the life of Lord Krishna, folktales and legends of 'Dashavatar'.