The colour scheme is predetermined with extraordinary precision, so that when the dyed threads are woven together, the design appears in the finished textile as if by magic. The weavers of each region have their own distinctive style, and make different types of textiles. Weavers of Sambalpur and Sonepur make Sambalpuri silk and cotton saris, bed covers, tapestry; those from Berhampur make silk saris, gold embroidery, tassar silk; and those from Nuapatna, Maniabandh Nuapatna, Mankidia, Mayurbhanj make Cuttaki saris, silk tassar saris, and some fine cottons.

Metallic Work

The glittering bell metal has a special place in Orissan life. Often, metalsmiths are clustered in villages, such as that of Balakati, near Bhubaneswar. In these villages, you can select items directly from the artist, and often, have custom decorations added spot. The famous dhokra metal castings, an important traditional tribal craft, are made out of bronze, by the lost-wax casting method. Items made out of Dhokra work can also be found in Kuliana (Mayurbhanj), Kaimati (Keonjhar), and Sadei Bareni (Dhenkanal). Brass and bell metal work can be found at Kantilo (Puri) and Remuna (Balasore). The famous flexible fish is made at Belguntha in Ganjam district.

Painting

The contemporary professional painters of ‘pata chitra’ are primarily clustered in and around Puri. A substantial group lives in the artists’ village of Raghurajpur and Chitrakarasahi, where visitors are welcome to wander in and out of dozens of galleries and houses, buying and surveying their work. Another eminently collectible product of the chitrakaras are the painted, circular playing cards known as ganjapas. Old sets of these beautiful and charming small paintings (which traditionally were made in sets of 96 cards) are much sought after by connoisseurs, and the modern ones, executed in a vigorous folk style, are often extremely appealing.

‘Paintings’ done by the palm-leaf etching technique are formed by stringing together rows of the rectangular leaves. They can be folded into a compact pile, then opened up like a fan. Good selections of contemporary work can be found in the emporium at Bhubaneswar, but it is fun to visit the artists themselves and see them at work at Raghurajpur. Some of the etching work can also be seen in the Orissa State Museum, and the National Museum in New Delhi.

Stone Carving

From the 6th century onwards, Orissa produced a wealth of sculptural treasure in stone. The descendants of these artists can still be found in several places, including the village adjoining the Buddhist site of Lalitgiri in Cuttack district, and in Puri, Bhubaneswar, and Khiching. The Puri stone-sculptors still live and work in charming painted houses on Pathuria Sahi (Stone-Carver’s Lane), utilizing their ancient skills to produce contemporary work on commission, occasionally finding a patron who wants a traditional piece, and training their sons and grandsons to follow in their footsteps. In addition to Pathuria Sahi, Puri has the very interesting Sudarshan Crafts Center, where a nationally recognized sculptor has established a gallery and an apprentice training workshop.

Sea Shell Work

In all the coastal areas and sea beaches (Puri Sea Beach, Gopalpur beach, Chandipur beach, Konark beach), you get to see beautiful home-made sea shell works ranging from lamps, tables, mirrors, lighthouses, stands to small small gift items. There are wide variety of sea shells like CALICO SCALLOPS, TULIP SHELLS, CATS EYE, PRICKLY COCKLE, JINGLE SHELLS, OLIVE SHELLS, TURBAN SHELLS, TURKEY WING SHELLS, BUBBLE SHELL, CERITHS, LIGHTNING WHELK, LIMPET, MUREX, SLIPPER SHELL, TINTED CANTHARUS, CARDITA, KITTEN PAW, MODULUS, JEWELERY BOX, FIGHTING CONCH, AUGER , CALICO CLAM, ARK CLAM, THICK LIPPED DRILL, VAN HYNING’S COCKLE , BUTTERCUP LUCINA, PURPLISH SEMELE, CHESTNUT LATIRUS, COQUINA, DOVE SHELL etc available as collectibles.