From Clay to Divinity: The Image Makers of Odisha

Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Cultural heritage of Odisha. 2. Festivals, ceremonies and individual workshops of the images of Cuttack. 3. The techniques and process of image making. 4. Types of images and their association with the religious society. 5. Image and image makers of Cuttack, Odisha. 6. Modern influence on the work of traditional Kataki Karigaras. 7. Tulasi Chaura the leaving legend of Odishan Culture. Conclusion. Glossary. Bibliography. Index.

This book offers a path-breaking analysis of the transformations that occupied the art and aesthetic values of Odisha during the colonial nationalist periods. I moved beyond most existing assumptions and narratives to explore the complexities and diversities of the changes generated by image making context and pre-occupations in art. I examined both the forms and Practices of Artisans as well as the cultural Part. So I choose this topic to write. Cuttack is not unfamiliar to me: I belong to the district of Cuttack since I was born and brought-up in small village of Katikata. This is very famous for the rituals and tradition. My mother is a traditional Jhoti and Chita painter. I have taken these arts as my entertainment. Very often, I used to match the Jhoti and Chita and other ritual performers in my village and other neighboring villages during the occasion. I feel through this work an understanding of the historical and analytical study of the visual art and the stylistic contents of the clay image-making which have been continuing in costal belt of Odisha, Cuttack in so far as image-making, colouring, ornamentation and other decoration by the Karigaras are concerned.