Pattachitra Painting

The Patachitra, the folk painting of Orissa, has a history of great antiquity. The paintings exhibit the use of strong lines and brilliant colours. These are religious paintings that cover the themes and events from Indian mythology and Puranas and are mainly made on silk or on old cotton glued with paper. Patachitras are painted in a regular series like Dashavatar of Vishnu and activities of Lord Rama & Krishna etc. The Patachitra paintings have a basic resemblance to the old murals of the Kalinga region dating back to the 5th century BC. The best Patachitra paintings are found in and around Puri - Orissa-East India.