Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village located in the Puri district of Odisha. It is around 14 kilometers away from Puri, a well-known pilgrimage and tourist destination. The village is easily accessible from Puri and is known for its traditional art and craft forms, particularly the famous Pattachitra paintings. Raghurajpur is also known for being the birthplace of prominent Odissi dance exponent Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. He is a highly revered figure in the world of Indian classical dance, and his contributions to Odissi have earned him several accolades, including the Padma Vibhushan.
In the year 2000, after a detailed study and documentation project by INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage), Raghurajpur village was chosen to be developed as Odisha’s first heritage and crafts village. Various immersive trainings were held for villagers to pick up various art and craft forms, mainly on Pattachitra. An interpretation center was built and artists who were trained in the art were asked to decorate the walls of their home with artwork. After this, there was no looking back for Raghurajpur as tourists flocked to immerse themselves in the art of Pattachitra and also shop for arts and crafts.
Pattachitra is a traditional Odisha style of scroll painting and the name “Pattachitra” is derived from two Sanskrit words: “patta,” meaning cloth or canvas, and “chitra,” meaning picture or painting. these paintings include intricate detailing, vibrant colors, and the use of mythological themes. These paintings often depict scenes from Hindu mythology, including stories from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as various gods andT WITH A HEARTBEAT: goddesses.
Pattachitra artists use natural materials for their paintings. The canvas is usually a piece of cloth, specially treated with a mixture of chalk and gum made from tamarind seeds. Natural pigments derived from minerals, stones, conch shells, and plants are used for coloring with fine brushes for intricate work.
I visited Raghurajpur in 2014, as I stepped into the village, I could see many houses with open doors welcoming me to walk into it. Inside the house I saw not only the artists working intricately on their Pattachitra but also many members of their families pitching in to mix colors, prepare canvas, etc, the artists were very polite and welcoming. They sat me down and explained to me about the art form Pattachitra and allowed me to wade through their bundled artwork. Being a Tanjore Painting artist myself I could connect to this art form at a brushstroke level. Tanjore Painting is usually a snapshot of the god or goddess whereas Pattachitra depicts the whole scene or story in a single painting. I picked up quite a few paintings and they still adorn my home.
Overall, Raghurajpur is a village for an experiential and immersive journey. It probably is a very few villages in India where you see a living art form, loved and enriched by the inhabitants of the village. If you get a chance do not miss to hop by or maybe even shop a handful in Raghurajpur.
