In the craft village of Raghurajpur in Odisha, nearly every home is a studio, and painting is prayer. Pattachitra, literally cloth picture, is one of India's oldest painting traditions, created for centuries as offerings for the Jagannath temple in Puri.
Made the ancient way
Before a single stroke is painted, the canvas itself is a work of craft: layers of cotton cloth bonded with tamarind gum, coated with chalk, and burnished with stone until it gleams. On this surface, artists paint with brushes of mouse hair and colours ground from minerals and shells, finishing with the famous decorative borders that frame every Pattachitra like a temple doorway.
Gods, legends, and luminous detail
Pattachitra subjects come from mythology: Krishna's leelas, Ganesha's forms, and above all Lord Jagannath. A masterwork like Lord Jagannath in Pattachitra can hold your gaze for hours; every inch is filled with story. The Radha Krishna Raas Leela turns the divine dance into a swirling, intricate composition worthy of a collector's wall, while Panchamukhi Ganesha brings blessing and beauty together.
An heirloom, not a purchase
A genuine Pattachitra takes weeks to complete and lasts generations. It is the kind of art you pass down, and each one supports the painter families of Odisha, including master artist Shri Niranjan Maharana whose works we are proud to feature.
Explore our Pattachitra collection and the artists of Odisha.
