Raghurajpur, an emblem of heritage arts and crafts of Odisha!!!

About fifteen km from the revered city of Lord Jagannath, Puri, there is a tiny little hamlet Raghurajpur, nestled on the southern bank of river Bhargavi in the rural heartland of Odisha. Amidst the coconut, palm, and mango groves, this quiet village is a treasure trove for some of the finest heritage art forms of the state. 

Raghurajpur comprises about 130 houses that also function as live workshops divided almost equally on each side, facing each other. There are temples of the local deities in the centre of the village with platforms that provide places for religious celebrations and socializing. 

 

 

Raghurajpur was once known as the keepers of Odisha’s ancient Pattachitra art, mainly due to the late Sri. Jagannath Mohapatra (winner of the President of India’s award in 1965) and many artists trained under his guidance. It is fascinating how each household is exclusively involved with some traditional art form or craft, and many are skilled artists! 

Most houses in the village practice the famous heritage art of Odisha, Pattachitra, Tala Pattachitra, (palm leaf engraving), wood carving, stone carving, toys from cow dung, and papier mâché and a few also make Gangifa. These ancient art forms are passed through generations and are said to have been born out of association with the rituals at the Lord Jagganath temple, Odisha's presiding deity. 

Apart from keeping the traditional art forms of Pattachitra and Tala Pattachira alive, the village has also produced some of the finest classical dancers of Gotipua and Odissi, like Sri. Kelucharan Mohapatra. 

The moment one enters the village, one is warmly greeted by the artists and invited to visit their homes. Their tiny homes are a visual treat for art and craft lovers! The entrances, doors, and walls of the houses of Raghurajpur are nothing less than art galleries. The entire village adorns beautiful, intricate paintings that depict stories from Hindu mythology, local deities, flora and fauna of the land, and folktales. Raghurajpur has a fascinating tradition of announcing a wedding in the family by writing the names of a bride and groom on the entrance with some traditional designs.  

One needs to take a languid walk in the village to get a glimpse of the life of artists/craftspeople. The experience is enthralling, as each house has such interesting frescos and art collections that one is overwhelmed with choices. Most villagers are friendly and willing to share their experiences and artistic process, an eye-opening and a great learning experience for the uninitiated. 

Raghurajpur has many National, State, and other prestigious awardees and is trying to change with time while firmly rooted in traditional ways of life and art practices.  

 

In the year 2000, the traditional art hub of Raghurajpur village was declared a Heritage Village by Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Since then, it became more visible on the national and international stage. 

How to go :

Nearest airport/Railway station/ Road  : Bhuvaneshwar , capital of Odisha, about 50 kms from Raghurajpur. Well connected to all the cities of India