Traditional scroll painting of Orissa "Pattachitra" is one of the oldest symbiotic relationship of art and religion soaked in culture, classical romances, vibrant colors and intricacy; this art form does not only go back to the history of centuries but is also an emotional connection of an artist's belief with it's Lord Jagannath.
Patta painting is considered to be as old as the construction of the Lord Jagannath temple at Puri i.e 12th Century A.D.
Traditionally, Patta mean cloth and Chitra mean painting. These scrolls are a narrative style of painting intricate stories of Mahabharat, Ramayana and Jagannath on the fabric/palm leaf using natural pigment. Depending on the size and intricacy a painting can take upto 3-4 months to complete if painted by a Master Artisan.
Followed by the rich history Pattachitra has attracted artist, designers, traders and tourists from all across the world which has contributed deeply in the developement of rural areas like Raghurajpur.
Today, the dilemma of growth in Indian craft sector has become a matter of deep concern due to several reasons like recessionary trend witnessed in the global economy, less appreciation of handmade in mass, lack of design intervention and the revival of crafts. Falling demand of Pattchitra is not just a cultural threat but also a big alarm of decreasing number of chitrakar who have now started practicing different profession to earn better livelihood. To overcome such crises, crafts like pattachitra need more support before our authentic craftsmanship gets lost in a fast moving world.
Article by Nahida Parveen
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