20 Beautiful Patta Chitra Paintings from Top Odisha Artists

Patta paintings are commonly known as Patta Chitra paintings and are a popular art form in West Bengal and Odisha. It is a traditional art form created on a piece of cloth and mostly centered on folk tales and mythological stories. Patta paintings are theme-based works of art with many motifs and bright colors. Patta paintings are known to have existed since 5 B.C., when great tales were drawn on pieces of cloth resembling scrolls. Odisha is the land of Lord Jaganath, so most Patta paintings feature stories based on Lord Jaganath and his followers. The artists are known as chitrakars, and most hail from the village of Raghurajpur, which is well known for its craftsmanship. Every family in the village practices this art, and the tradition has been passed down through many generations. The preparation of the canvas for a Patta painting is unique. First, cheesecloth is coated with a gum made from tamarind seeds mixed with white stone powder. The base ingredient for Patta painting is gum from the kaitha tree. Only natural colors are used for these paintings. Nowadays, artists create Patta Chitra paintings on palm leaves, toys and many other objects.