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The warp and weft of Orissa

Handlooms and handicrafts from down the ages bespeak a great heritage

PHOTOS: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

COLOURS OF INDIA At Jayam's Hall

From the land of Kelucharan Mahapatra and Sanjukta Panigrahi, they have come to Coimbatore. A couple of steps inside Jayam's Hall, where Pruthibi Handicrafts Co-operative Society has organised a sale of handlooms and handicrafts from Orissa, and you are into the realm of the Konarak Sun temple, Puri Jagannath and Odissi. There is something about the age-old traditional weaves of Orissa. The colours, designs and texture are timeless in their elegance. From simple two-toned to brilliant flashes of colours, each saris is a labour of love. The more colours there are, the more laborious the process of weaving and therefore the more expensive it is, explains the weaver. The sari, depending on its design and the colours, could take anything from two days to ten or more to weave. There is Ikat material just perfect for that ethnic blouse. Take time off to talk to the weavers and artisans at the exhibition. They are more than eager to explain every warp and weft of the textiles, or how every piece of handicraft has been fashioned. Whether it is the Baripada brass castings where moulds are made from mud and beeswax and molten brass is poured into them to make Nandis and Ganeshas and tribal figures, or tarakasi or filigree work where cobweb-slender silver wires are drawn and intricately woven and plaited and intertwined to produce exquisite silver jewellery — it is obvious these artisans are trying to keep an ancient heritage alive, even though it pays them little.

Appliqué work, an old temple art, is perfected on parasols, lampshades, colourful wall hangings and garden umbrellas. If you are a connoisseur of art, then world famous traditional Patta Paintings, Patachitra and palm leaf engravings are there for you. The Geet Govind, the Dashavatara, the Ramayana and Mahabharata have all been etched in detail with what they call a lekhoni which is an iron tool that is sharp like a needle on the side from which the drawing is done and has a flattish other end that is used as a cutter.

Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh is pretty well represented, too. Hand-woven bed linen from Pochampalli in many colours is available at reasonable rates. Single bed covers, double bedcovers, Divan sets (this includes a single sheet, two bolster covers, three cushion covers, all for Rs 390), pillow cases (Rs 90 a pair) and great looking cushion covers (Rs 40 each) are there to match any décor. For those who like all things to do with books, there is a marvellously handcrafted table bookrack. A round dabba to hold chappatis could add that style statement to your dining table.

If one has the time for it, one can savour the rich and ancient legacy of arts and crafts that is still living to tell its tale at the exhibition that is on till July 4 between 10 a.m and 9 p.m

PANKAJA SRINIVASAN

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