Odisha: A Calendar of Sacred Festivals

In Odisha, the vegetation along the main highway announces the advent of ‘Puja’ or the season of prayer, when the Goddess Durga in various avatars is celebrated for nine days of festivities and prayers called Navratri.

The wild sugar cane or kans grass, locally called kashphool, can be seen in full bloom to announce the beginning of this season of prayer.

This season of prayer is an opportunity for the street vendors to sell their wares to the various pilgrims who visit the temples.

The Puja season also sets into motion a flurry of decorative work from the hands of every crafts person, from flower garland makers to decorators of illuminated frontages on the streets.

In the city of Puri, the Jagannath temple is an important cultural landmark. Is is an important stop for all devotees who come to Odisha.

Around the temple area, there are many traditional silver filigree workshops which are frequented by both locals and tourists.

Locally known as Tarakashi, the craft of silver filigree is believed to have been introduced in Odisha when the Mughals established their rule in India. Many designs employed by the artisans show the influence of elaborate motifs of that era.

The working area of the filigree craftsmen is often decorated with posters of Lord Jagannath and other deities.

The workshops are generally located behind the showrooms.

They sit in groups of four to five people, facilitating the complete process from twisting the silver wires to fashioning the products to cleaning the finished piece.

All production starts with craftsmen drawing the design on sheet.

While most of the processes involved in filigree production are manual, a machine is used to compress silver bricks into flat wires.

In Cuttack, the 'Silver City of India', all silversmiths are situated in or around the market area located near the birthplace of India’s iconic freedom fighter, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, giving it extra significance as a prestigious locality.

Various showrooms in the markets use their window display to showcase silver ornaments for deities, which are in demand during the festivals.

These showrooms cater to all kinds of buyers and stock silver filigree items besides ornaments for deities as well.

During major festivals, like Durga Puja, silversmiths work on producing large ornamental pieces that are used to add grandeur to the idol of the deity.

The craftsmen also make filigree products using gold, and often use gemstones to enhance their designs.

Many of the jewelry designs made by Odisha's filigree artists today are the same as those that were made by their predecessors 20-25 years ago!

Cuttack is especially famous for its centuries old silver filigree work and the ecosystem that exits to support the silversmiths is what makes this craft successful.

Many families have been a part of this ecosystem for a long time and continue to grow.

The good business that the silver trade brings to the town, encourages all sections of society to live together in harmony.

Read more about silver filigree here:
- A Silver Throne for the Goddess​
- Ornaments, Decorative and Utilitarian Products