A dive into the world of Pattachitra

Sanskrit gave rise to Pattachitra. Patta means fabric and Chitra means image when separated down into its two components. As a result, Pattachitra is a painting on a piece of fabric. This type of art is intimately tied to the Shri Jagannath religion and Puri temple traditions. It is one of the most prominent live art forms in Odisha, and it is said to have begun as early as the 12th century.This ancient Odia painting art is still practised in Puri, Raghurajpur, Paralakhemundi, Chikiti, and Sonepur. In the present day, Lord Jagannath is regarded as the originator of the Patta style. The colour palettes of Puri’s deities are quite close to those of the Patta style. The earliest evidence of Patta Paintings is unlikely to predate the founding of the current Shri Jagannath temple in Puri.It might be because paintings do not last as long as sculptures.

The paintings within Lord Jagannath’s shrines in Puri support the date. The oldest classical marble paintings of Sitabanji at Keonjhar do not entirely fit to the current Patta painting style. The wooden figurines of the three deities are similarly cloth-wrapped and then layered with glue mixed with chalk before being painted with just four limited colours: red, yellow, white, and black.The Pattachitra style is a hybrid of folk and classical elements, with a preference for folk forms. Mughal influences may be seen in the attire style. All of the stances have been constrained to a few distinct postures. These are not without tedious repeats, however this is sometimes required to emphasise the narrative aspect of the style. The lines are strong, crisp, angular, and sharp.

By Subhechcha Ganguly