Amazing Terracotta of Odisha That People Would Never Miss
Amazing Terracotta Crafts of Odisha That People Would Never Miss
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(Author with the terracotta musicians)
Introduction:
Terracotta crafts of Odisha are overwhelmingly prepared, polished and painted in the rural belts of Orissa.Burnt Clay Crafts are otherwise called terracotta.The word ‘Terracotta’ is derived from an Italian term, which signifies ‘baked clay’ and ‘fired clay’ in Latin. Burnt Clay Crafts are made out of locally accessible clay and most likely the earliest craft made by humans.It is additionally called ‘ Mruttika (ମୃତ୍ତିକା ) ‘ in vernacular Odia. These crafts are natural, solid and very appealing when painted. The only negativity is that these crafts are fragile and has to be handled with care.
Replica of Tulsi Chaura on display at the Crafts Museum ( KalaBhoomi)
Huge Burnt Clay Pots for Keeping the Auspicious Basil Plants in front of Houses (Tulsi Chaura ,ତୁଳସୀ ଚଉରା ).(There lies a tradition of offering/putting burning earthen lamps every evening in front of those basil plants in almost all Odia rural households.)
Varieties of Burnt Clay Crafts
Various things are produced using clay by capable Odia skilled workers, for example, diyas ( charming little lamps), necklaces, earrings , accessories, masks, jars, utilities like storage of food grains, cooking vessels, tea/coffee cups, glasses, chulhas or clay cookstoves, incense stick stands,toys and tiles, masterpieces of pretty much anything (human figures, birds and creatures, plants,images of Deities, landmarks, even cartoon characters ) . Anything is possible by creative minds of these artisans.
There are more than 15,000 burnt clay craftsmen in the state who are creating customary, decorative and utility clay craft based things.
Painted Burnt Clay Musicians & Plain Containers for Sale in an Exhibition
Painted Burnt Clay Containers, Bed Lamps, Masks etc. For Sale.
Burnt Clay Images of Deities
Burnt Clay Plaques to Decorate the Walls
Burnt Clay Plaques to Decorate the Walls
Burnt Clay Sculpture Displayed in an Art Exhibition
Painted Burnt Clay Flower Vases
Burnt Clay cups, plates, tea kettle etc. for sale in a craft exhibition
Tribal painting done on the surface of terracotta flower vase
Centres of Clay Crafts
There are several places in different nooks and corners of our state where these clay craft artisans are predominantly staying and concentrating only on producing terracotta products. Some of the focused terracotta craft pockets are
Sonepur( District H.Q), Barapalli(Baragarh district) , Haldharpur(Kendujhar district), Nuagaon( Sundergarh district), Lunukua(Jagatsinghpur district), Kusumi(Sambalpur district) , Dashmantpur( Koraput district), Laxmipur(Koraput district), Kumbharput (Koraput district) etc.
Clay rooftop tiles are enlivened with the figures of monkeys, squirrels, birds , mice etc. on them. This practice started in the need to drive off wild creatures and these creatures roosted on tiles act fairly in the idea of scarecrows as accepted by the people of the rural belts.
Dongria kondh tribal ladies selling/ purchasing household earthenwares in a weekly tribal market, Chatikona near Raygada, Odisha
Making of Clay Crafts
Potter’s wheel
Potter’s wheel
Potter’s traditional kiln in Kumbharpada,Puri, where cow dung cakes and wood logs are used unlike electric kilns widely used in western countries.
Artistic varieties of terracotta smoking pipes made by an artisan in Kumbharpada, Puri.
Nowadays several people have started cooking in terracotta pottery or earthenwares.Because it is being suggested as good for health. The major fraction of clay crafts of Odisha is terracotta pottery which is done with refined clay. The clay items that are created by the terracotta process need the partially dried refined clay and then the cast is done. The mould then is given the required ideal shape and is placed in a kiln or atop combustible material( like coals , cow dung cakes etc.) in a pit for drying. This is trailed by exposing the items to dry in normal atmospheric temperature for a couple of days.
The rural people who are occupied with the clay artworks of Odisha utilize a unique sort of clay and configuration to suit the natural allure of the clay . Aside from making rooftop tiles, the craftsmen make utensils that reach from plates, the earthen tea cups, containers and numerous other kitchen things. The clay crafts so made are additionally decorated with lively shadings and are minutely laid out and featured. Nowadays the articles are given a last touch of normal terracotta tone so as to add that most sought-after rustic appeal. Creature dolls of bulls, elephants and ponies are additionally found among the clay made articles of Odisha.
The clay crafts of Odisha have carved an envious position in the vast array of Indian clay crafts. The government does understand the potential of these crafts and is providing financial assistance to these artisans ( kalakar bhatta) and also loans to those who need it with low interest of pay. The craftsmen are currently moving to various art & crafts exhibitions to showcase their items in various areas of Odisha and to different parts of India too. In Odisha too, an international standard crafts fair , called Toshali Crafts Fair is being organised every year from Dec 15th to 27th. This fair is very much alike the Surajkund Crafts Fair being held in Haryana every year.
Festivals & Practices Centred Around Terracotta :
Lankapodi Hanuman is the idol used during Lankapodi Utsav ( the burning of Lanka festival) that is celebrated in Sonepur Balangir and Sambalpur parts of Odisha. The idol has attached wheels and a cloth wrapped to its tail that is set on fire and dragged in the streets to create an illusion of burning Lanka. Here I am giving the phot
The offering of votive horses to the village deities is a common phenomenon in rural Orissa. Such sculptures are made as offerings to a village deity normally seen in village squares under a large banyon or peepal tree, near a pond or river . The seven individual pieces of the horse are made separately and then joined together.
Here I am attaching a short video on
” Mythological Trail of Living Terracotta of Sonepur ( Western Odisha)” by IGRMS for a better understanding of the craft.
Dr. Manoj Mishra
lunarsecstasy@gmail.com
7 Comments
A Significant focus Burnt Clay Art of Odisha. Worthy and resourceful topic.🙏
Pure beauty of clay art, I can notice some sililarities with ours. Thanks for posting, really interesting.
Thank you for appreciating and keeping interest in these clay crafts.
Thank you dear Vesna for your continued appreciation and encouraging words..
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