Insights on Wood Carvings of Orissa The wood carvings of Orissa are beautifully old and unique in its very

essence. Practiced in various parts of Orissa, wood carving has become an important part of the culture and traditions of the state. These wood carvings are not only intensely intricate and exceptionally stylized when it comes to color and dyeing. Broadly this craft form can be clubbed into three basic manifestations in the local wares of Orissa. The first of these are the masks and simple wooden toys that are handmade and colored by the local artisans. The Puri and Bargah masks as well as the wooden chariots and idols make up this group, since they are easy to make with soft and light wood. They are also colored with vegetable dyes and mineral colors. These are made by the carpenters called Moharana with chisels and hammers. Another style of such wood carving is done plainly on White Teak, also known as gambhari. It is soft in texture and creamy white in color. Where painted wood carvings are less intricate, the white teak wood carvings are defined and very fine handworks which take a lot of time and hand work to finish. Thus, it garners much more attention in the form of damsels, Krishna, horses, gods and goddesses, Konark elephants and so on, contributing to the folklore and legends of Orissa. This captivating workmanship can be found in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Articles made from wood generally require White Teak or a darker, rose wood also called Sisu. In the Daspalla area in Puri, it is the specialty of artisans to make popular items such as small pitchers or utensils, which are made with mango leaves and coconut. Glasses, bowls and incense stands are also fine examples of such beautiful wood carving. The excellent wood work can be seen in the carved ceilings of the innumerous temples in Orissa, which can bring a man to his knees in amazement.