CENTER FOR ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY

Subject: Episodes from Ramayana. Pattachitra is a traditional, cloth-based scroll painting. This pattachitra shows episodes from the epic Ramayana. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Horse Heads. These are two horse heads made in papier-mâché. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of Papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. Masks of many shapes, forms and sizes are a part of Odisha’s culture. In Puri, they are used for sahijatra which means street theater. The folk theater probably originated as a show of strength during Mughal invasion when people chose to participate in masks. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Horse Head. This is a horse head made in papier-mâché. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of Papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. Masks of many shapes, forms and sizes are a part of Odisha’s culture. In Puri, they are used for sahijatra which means street theater. The folk theater probably originated as a show of strength during Mughal invasion when people chose to participate in masks.

Subject: Horse Head. This is a horse head made in papier-mâché. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of Papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. Masks of many shapes, forms and sizes are a part of Odisha’s culture. In Puri, they are used for sahijatra which means street theater. The folk theater probably originated as a show of strength during Mughal invasion when people chose to participate in masks. This object has been procured by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Krishna-Radha on Kandarpa Hasti. In this straw craft image, Krishna and Radha are on a Kandarpa Hasti. Kandarpa Hasti, the heavenly elephant, is a popular theme in the context of Krishna Raas Leela. The other name of Kandarpa Hasti is 'Navanarikunjara' where nine gopis are entangled with each other to form the shape of an elephant. Straw craft is created by placing straw strand by strand to form a sheet and then cutting the sheet to create a patchwork for the desired shape. This is pasted onto a black cloth that has been mounted on a board. Images created are usually historical or religious. The Kandarpa paintings portray Krishna with the milkmaids or gopikas who are under the spell of his love, in different formations.

Subject: Krishna-Radha on Kandarpa Doli. The Kandarpa paintings portray Krishna with the milkmaids or gopikas who are under the spell of his love, in different formations. In this straw craft image, Krishna and Radha are enjoying the Kandarpa Doli (divine swing) formed by gopis. Straw craft is created by placing straw strand by strand to form a sheet and then cutting the sheet to create a patchwork for the desired shape. This is pasted onto a black cloth that has been mounted on a board. Images created are usually historical or religious. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Krishna-Radha on Kandarpa Ashwa. In this straw craft image Krishna and Radha are on a Kandarpa Ashwa. Kandarpa Ashwa, the heavenly horse, is a popular theme in the context of Krishna Raas Leela where gopis are entangled with each other to form the shape of a horse. Straw craft is created by placing straw strand by strand to form a sheet and then cutting the sheet to create a patchwork for the desired shape. This is pasted onto a black cloth that has been mounted on a board. Images created are usually historical or religious. The Kandarpa paintings portray Krishna with the milkmaids or gopikas who are under the spell of his love, in different formations. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Nabakeli. This straw craft image refers to Nabakeli, a pleasure trip by Krishna, on a boat rowed by the milkmaids or gopis in the Yamuna. Straw craft is created by placing straw strand by strand to form a sheet and then cutting the sheet to create a patchwork for the desired shape. This is pasted onto a black cloth that has been mounted on a board. Images created are usually historical or religious. This object has been loaned by State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC).

Subject: Standing Snake. Snakes, nagas, have a high status in Hindu mythology. Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes when paintings and sculptures of snakes such as this are worshipped. This object was procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Standing Snake. Snakes, nagas, have a high status in Hindu mythology. Naga Panchami is a day of traditional worship of Nagas or snakes when paintings and sculptures of snakes such as this are worshipped. This object was procured from State Institute for Development of Arts & Crafts (SIDAC) Show House.

Subject: Wall Magazine Stand. A magazine stand made from papier-mâché technique and wood. Papier-mâché is a French word for chewed paper. The craft is said to have been introduced during the Mughal reign. The surface of Papier-mâché produces an ideal ground for painting, which is probably the reason the craft became popular in Odisha with its traditional pattachitra painters. This art in Odisha uses a fusion of paper, cloth rags and straw. It is pulped by hand after softening with water. Additives like multani mitti are added to the pulp as an adhesive and for providing a textured finish. View from the front. This object was gifted by Smt. Anjana Panda.

Subject: Kali and Miscellaneous Scenes. The (left) side of the wall shows Goddess Kali. Kali is the powerful form of Shakti. She is chief of the Mahavidyas, a group of ten Tantric goddesses. On the other (right) side there are varied paintings of animals such as pigs, tiger and cow. There are also images of men riding horses and warriors with bow and arrow.

Subject: South wall of sanctum (garbhagrha)

Subject: North wall of sanctum (garbhagrha)

Subject: Portrait of Raja Serfoji II; the museum received this object Archaeological Office, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, it was donated by Selvaraj.

Subject: Portrait of Raja Serfoji II; the museum received this object Archaeological Office, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, it was donated by Selvaraj.

Subject: Portrait of Raja Shivaji; ; the museum received this object from Archaeological Office, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Subject: Portrait of Raja Shivaji; ; the museum received this object from Archaeological Office, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Subject: Radha and Krishna. Radha, the gopi (milkmaid) was the beloved of the god Krishna during that period of his life when he lived among the gopas (cowherds) of Vrindavan.

Subject: Jagannatha Temple Doorway Mural. At Jagannatha temple, there are four gates both in outer and inner enclosures entrance on the Eastern, Southern, Western and Northern sides of the out enclosure are known as Simhadwara or the Lion Gate, Aswadwara, Vyaghradwara and Hastidwara respectively. Worshipping the gates also forms a part of the daily ritualistic service of the temple.

Subject: Chandan Yatra Mural. Chandana Yatra is the longest festival observed at the Jagannatha temple at Puri. It continues for 42 days is observed in two parts: Bahara Chandana and Bhitara Chandana. During the Bahara Chandana the deities are taken on two chapas (boats), namely, Nanda and Bhadra, on an excursion around the Narendra Tritha.

Subject: Jagannatha Temple Mural. The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is dedicated to Lord Jagannatha.

Subject: Krishna Leela. Pattachitra is a traditional, cloth-based scroll painting. Krishna Leela consists of Krishna themes but in Odisha we come across themes that are not derived from the Bhagavata Purana. These are called rasa pictures which are special form of erotic games in which gopis or milkmaids have an important role.

Subject: Mountain Scenery Mural. A mountain scenery with mountains and greenery.