About Wall Painting

1. Jhoti / Chita – Ritualistic Rice Paste Art

Jhoti (or Chita) is one of Odisha's oldest and most sacred forms of wall and floor art, made using rice paste (pithau). Drawn mainly by women, it's both decorative and devotional.

 Medium: White rice paste on red or brown mud walls
 Tools: Fingers or twigs wrapped with cloth
 Motifs: Goddess Lakshmi’s footprints, lotuses, vines, birds
 Occasions: Lakshmi Puja, Manabasa Gurubar, weddings, harvests
 Cultural Meaning: Invokes prosperity, purity, and blessings

These intricate, freehand patterns aren’t just visuals—they are acts of reverence, inviting divine energy into the home.

2. Saura Wall Paintings – Tribal Spiritual Art

Practiced by the Saura (or Savara) tribe of southern Odisha, this art is also known as Ikon. Traditionally created as ritualistic offerings to ancestors and deities, these murals are deeply symbolic.

 Medium: White pigment (often rice or lime) on red-ochre walls
 Subjects: Daily tribal life, animals, humans, celestial bodies, and sacred icons
 Occasions: Births, marriages, housewarmings, seasonal ceremonies
 Styles: Linear forms, repeated patterns, no facial details—symbolic not literal

Saura paintings are cosmic maps of life and afterlife, blending art with animistic spirituality.

3. Idital Paintings – Sacred Wall Art of the Sora Tribe

Idital is a distinct ritual art form of the Sora (Saura) tribe, especially seen in districts like Rayagada, Gajapati, and Koraput.

 Purpose: Honoring deities and ancestors, seeking protection and fertility
 Styles: Jodisum, Jananglasum—each with its unique iconography
 Visual Language: Geometric, minimalist, symbolic rather than realistic

Unlike decorative wall art, Idital paintings are sacred and typically not made for commercial sale—only commissioned for ceremonies.

4. Santal Murals – Mayurbhanj’s Painted Homes

In northern Odisha, especially in Mayurbhanj, Santal women decorate the exteriors of their mud homes with colorful murals. This tradition is part of ancestor worship and seasonal rituals.

 Materials: Mud, lime, charcoal, and natural dyes
 Themes: Nature, fertility, village life, flora and fauna
 Function: Home blessings, identity, and storytelling
 Art Form: Passed orally—every mural is unique to the artist

Their homes become living canvases, turning everyday life into folklore.

 5. Pattachitra on Walls – From Cloth to Temple Murals

While known for cloth paintings, Pattachitra also adorns walls of Jagannath temples and homes across Odisha.

 Motifs: Lord Jagannath, Krishna Leela, Ramayana scenes
 Technique: Natural pigments, bold outlines, intricate borders
 Location: Temples in Puri, homes in Raghurajpur, and artisan villages

These murals carry the same devotional energy and mythological themes found in traditional scrolls.

 6. Urban Wall Art – Bhubaneswar’s Contemporary Canvas

Modern Odisha blends heritage with innovation through street murals and urban beautification projects.

 Locations: City walls, flyovers, public buildings
 Artists: Local and international muralists
 Themes: Tribal icons, Odissi dance, Pattachitra fusion, social messages

These city walls become public galleries, celebrating Odisha's past in a modern aesthetic.

 Bring Odisha’s Wall Art into Your Space

Whether you want to recreate a Jhoti design at your doorway, frame a Saura mural for your wall, or commission a Pattachitra mural for your living room—Odisha’s wall painting traditions offer timeless beauty rooted in culture and meaning.

Why Choose Odisha’s Wall Art?

•  Eco-Friendly – Made with natural, local materials

•  Culturally Rich – Tells the story of devotion, community, and sustainability

•  Unique Aesthetic – Every piece is a handmade original