Pattachitra In Jagannath Sanskruti

Odisha is a history in itself. In Jagannath Sanskruti everything related to Him (Lord Jagannath) is so beautiful, pure and authentic. Pattachitra is one of them. This is the oldest art. Traditionally people got to know the journey and stories of mythological scenes through this. In addition to Pattachitra, the authenticity speaks of the glory of Odisha.

Pattachitra is a Sanskrit language. It is combined by two words 'patta' ( cloth/canvas)and 'chitra' (picture/painting). These cloth paintings depict stories of Hindu deities, mainly Jagannath and Vaishnava. This folk form of art majorly expresses religious tales of Lord Krishna, kanchi Abhiyan, various portraits (vesas) of Shri Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, temple activities, ten incarnations of Vishnu basing on the 'Gita Govinda' of Jayadev, Kama Kujara Navagunjara, Ramayana, Mahabharata and so on. 

This canvas painting is an oldest form that has been popular not only in Odisha but outside of it too. Mainly in puri, konark and Bhubaneswar Pattachitra took birth. But the lion share of it was made at Raghurajpur village of Puri district. The villagers are masters of this. And their mastery could be found in their fine work. This is very colorful. The traditional form of painting looks more beautiful by the touch of painters (chitrakars). They don't go for any charcoal or pencil. They simply use brush to draw an art. 

On 10 July 2008 Pattachitra was registered. Now this small fine work not only seemed in clothes only but in hand fan, coconut, bells, earthen pot etc. This oldest folk art of Odisha now is a piece of home decor. It could be more adorable with proper encouragement and proper means.


The themes may be classified into following categories

  • Jagannath paintings

  • Vaishnav Paintings

a)Bhagabat paintings 

b)Ramayana paintings

  • Saiva paintings

  • Shakta paintings

  • Paintings as legends

  • Ragachitras

  • Banda Chitra

  • Yamapati and yatripatas – (sketches of puri temple) Ganjapa playing card paintings and other social themes on paintings.

  • Navagunjara

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