Sunday 16 March 2014

Raghurajpur Art Speaks...

Odisha is a very rich state - both historically, archeologically, culturally and with its mineral wealth. 



However, like many other states of Eastern India it is- uncared, unexplored, unappreciated...

Odisha is famous for many wonderful arts & crafts. Unfortunately, many people, even in the state of Odisha & in our country, India are not aware of the treasures...


 

2 months ago, my poem about Odisha Guess The Place!, and my Twitter Odisha Quiz made me realize that the OQ (Odisha Quotient) needs to be improved.

2 weeks ago, when to write my Indispire Story, I was looking for Silver Filigree of Odisha, I discovered to my dismay that the Odisha State cooperative Handicrafts Corporation, Utkalika, is yet to offer online purchase of such coveted crafts. 
Source

Ensuring online purchase would ensure that people all over the world would get to access and order our textiles & handicrafts that would mean a lot for our Tourism.

I wrote to the Tourism & Culture Secretary of Odisha, Shri Arvind Padhee :


Just a week later, Do Right & IndiBlogger presented an opportunity for us to complete the latest half-story... 


Here's the amazing video about the Raghurajpur artists-


I felt this is like a Genie  - "Your Wish Is My Command!" 

A website for the artists of Raghurajpur Village is a great step to help and empower them.

We have visited the Shri Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha where the interior walls have such amazing hand-painted art. 

 Slideshow Image 1
 
My Mom, who had great knowledge of Odisha culture & history, always answered queries patiently and explained the significance every time we went. 

Pattachitra

The above is one of the first Pattachitra I saw in my life when I was a kid. 
It depicts Lord Balabhadra & Lord Jagannath as horse-men who encounter a local lady selling curd... 

Left to Right- Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, Lord Jagannath

When I was in school, I learned about Raghurajpur- the village where every one is an artist...



The talented Raghurajpur artists in Puri, Odisha, India boast of incredible arts and crafts with motifs based on mythology, religion, folklore etc dating back to the 5th Century BC.

They create masterpieces- colorful art-works called Pattachitra and other works like tal chitra, silk painting, stone carving, coconut painting, betel nut painting, papier mache & masks, cowdung toys and ganjappa playing cards...

Despite their hardwork, blood, sweat & toil of many days and months by overcoming obstacles, sacrifices & challenges, the artists do not earn their true worth.

Their hand-to-mouth existence compels artists to sell off their artworks soon...  

Middlemen and touts pick up their intricate masterpieces at cheap rates and sell higher, thereby earning hefty profits.


Modern technology can greatly help to provide the traditional craft and the skilled artists of Raghurajpur a much-needed platform to showcase their art, promote and sell it without the interference of middlemen. A new website for Raghurajpur village that will profile all the families with their contact details and list their art work in their individual galleries, will help them to interact directly with buyers and interested people around the globe. 
We can help the artists earn the deserving fame, respect and right value...


Come, let us buy and gift Pattachitra paintings and help sustain the livelihood by filling the world of these Raghurajpur artists with the rainbow colors that they truly deserve...

We can also contribute & share this info by writing Blog-Posts and inform all about #OdishaPattachitra.

Contact here to order Pattachitra & other arts & crafts of Odisha.

Remember- Every share, tweet, Post counts..



Top post on IndiBlogger.in, the community of Indian Bloggers

28 comments:

  1. That Jagannath temple bathed in that light looks ethereal! Way to go. I hope something good comes out of this effort :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes indeed, Shailaja.
      You must plan a trip to Odisha soon & visit the incredible sights! :)

      Delete
  2. Beautiful and inspiring post, Anita. I wish this post reaches out to the maximum people possible.

    I know there's a huge time constraint but I nominated you for Arti's http://www.myyatradiary.com/2014/02/my-most-memorable-memento-contest.html.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Sangeeta.
      Hope we can make a difference.

      Thanks for thinking of me & nominating me. However, Preethi has already done so & I am yet to write for Arti's contest...

      Delete
  3. You are so right about the east being neglected.
    Great effort through this post. I hope the attempt is successful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's the sad reality, Indrani.
      Thanks for the appreciation. Yes, may this noble cause be a success.

      Delete
  4. Lovely article like always Anita....Di ur d best..Keep it up & tag me next time... Nikhil (Pehchan kon)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nikhil. Glad you liked it. Do support the cause.

      Delete
  5. Very nice attempt to showcase True Odisha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting my Blog. Delighted you liked it. Do keep coming :)

      Delete
  6. Keep spreading the good word, Anita!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Inspiring post,encouraging writing,good job

    ReplyDelete
  8. so rightly said every word feels so true .. inspiring :)

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  9. Odisha ki shan. A well written post Anita. Kudos and keep writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Krishna for the appreciation & support. :)

      Delete
  10. Wow....truly inspiring and superb post. Yes Odisha inspite of her great natural beauty & rich, glorious culture is far under-rated. We must write more about Odishan marvels so that OQ truly increases.
    #DoRight 's initiative for selling the fabulous crafts of Rahgurajpur's talented artists goes a long way in getting our beautiful, authentic, traditional & deserving paintings to a world audience....more power to them...hope they travel to more places in Odisha too...a lot of #DoRight is especially reqd in our absolutely stunning state- the Home of Lord Jagannath & so many unseen, unknown marvels....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amrita :)
      OQ - both knowledge and awareness needs to be improved.
      Art & Artists need to get their due...
      Architecture & natural beauty needs to be promoted.
      We have a lot many points in our To-Do list...

      Delete
  11. This is such a lovely post, Anita. I can see your empathy and enthusiasm for the cause come through. And the pics are just lovely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Rachna for your kind words :)
      Hope our words and actions can truly make a difference.
      The pics are courtesy the Odisha Tourism, Shri Jagannath Temple & DoRight websites.

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Thanks a lot Mahesh Divya :)
      Welcome to my Blog! Do keep visiting :)

      Delete
  13. Awesome post for a great cause Anita..Let us hope a new sun dawns for the artists of Raghurajapur through these efforts..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Preethi.
      Hope our collective effort bears fruit & we can spread Tech-colors in Raghurajpur.

      Delete
  14. Splendidly written for a splendid cause.. AWESOME

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks a lot! Your 'awesome' comment is awesome :)
      Delighted it appealed to you.

      Delete

Your words mean a lot to me.

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