Rural craftsmen showcase their creations

Expressbuzz, Jan 29, 2010
Diana Sahu

IT’S A captivating collage of handicrafts and handlooms of Orissa. From the exquisite Sambalpuri sarees to sandstone icons and from intricate Dokra appliqué work to Pattachitra wall paintings, the traditional craft forms are being showcased in innovative avatars by Orissa Rural Development and Marketing Society (ORMAS) at the Sisir Saras - 2010, which is on at Exhibition Ground. Emphasis on traditional skills coupled with sensitive designs has made the products suit contemporary tastes and a symbol of sophistication.


The idea is to provide a platform to the rural craftsmen to showcase their products to urban consumers without the involvement of middlemen besides interact with them to find out possible trade options.

Designed to catch the eye are Dokra wall hangings with fretwork frames featuring gods and goddesses crafted in the typical tribal art genre. Their creator, Mohan Meher from Rayagada, also has to his credit Ganesha profiles arresting in their lacy filigree-like workmanship.

Other Dokra artefacts such as lamps, boxes, candle stands and animal forms compel attention for their intriguing wire work finish of metal casting. Equally spectacular is the range of tribal metal jewellery comprising necklaces, pendants, anklets and earrings from Nabarangpur and Dhenkanal districts.

Besides, there are the fabled Sambalpuri and Katki Ikat sarees, dupattas, sarees in silk cotton and tussar. The sarees are outstanding with attractive motifs, woven borders and harmonious colour combinations.

The colour palette comprises beiges, typical reds, vivid oranges, pretty pinks and mellow greens. Prices range from Rs 300 to Rs 7,000.

Pipli work, wall hangings and cushion covers make colourful statements at the exhibition.

The Pattachitra paintings in silk, paper and tussar, depicting scenes from Hindu mythology and local lore are expressed in the brush strokes of Orissa’s oldest craft. Both the Pattachitra paintings and palm engravings have been adapted to create wall hangings, bookmarks and greeting cards.

The wood carvings made of stumps of fallen teak trees, from Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts reflect the craftsmanship and aesthetics of artisans.

Another highlight of the exhibition is the stalls of daily utility items like pulses, brooms, honey, leaf plates, turmeric and NTFP like Amla, Harida, Bahada besides medicinal herbs like Nagarmutha and Kalmegh, procured from tribal belts of Koraput, Kalahandi, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Gajapati, Balangir, Kandhamal and Boudh districts by SHGs.

Besides Orissa, artistes from 15 other states have also found space to display their products.

While artisans from Karnataka have brought in rosewood and walnut wood carvings, their counterparts from Rajasthan have displayed ghagra cholis embedded with mirror work besides bandhini work.

An interesting display is the leather craft from Andhra Pradesh and iron craft from Chhattisgarh. Says Sreenivas Rao from Anantapuram district of AP, “we have exhibited wall hangings and showpieces made of leather. Eco-friendly colours extracted from roots, fruits, jiggery and iron have been used to print traditional designs.” The exhibition, inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on January 23, would continue till February 1. A new initiative by ORMAS to promote sales of rural products – Bazaar on Wheels – has also been inaugurated on the occasion.