Odisha Wood Carving - Traditional Artistry & Unique Designs

Wooden masterpieces: Temples to Toys

Odisha artisans have practised the craft of wood carving for centuries. The wood carving tradition of Odisha is deeply rooted in its folk culture. In Khairpadar, Dharamgarh, Rengalpali, Jaipatna and Bhawanipatna, skilled descendants of temple-building artisans continue the craft of their ancestors.

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The Making

There are three main kinds of wood carving in the state: painted wooden toys, temple wood carvings, and wood turned items. Craftsmen use gambari, teak, and piasal wood to create pieces in a variety of colours. Specialised tools like kholom, batali, barasi, karata, khot kas and tai are used to shape and add intricate details. Sometimes, the sculptures are polished with wax to achieve a glossy finish.

The Legacy

Notable examples of temple carvings can be seen in the temples of Banki, Buguda and Kapilash. In Puri, artisans carve wooden figures with large eyes inspired by Lord Jagannath. They mainly use neem, sidar and sheesham wood. Cuttack specialises in white teak carving, while Daspalla carvers excel at both decorative and utility items made of rosewood.

Memory Vault

The foremost example of wood carving is to be found in the Puri temple where the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are finely crafted. These deities are celebrated during the annual Rath Yatra. The wooden idols are periodically replaced through a sacred Odia ritual called Nabakalebara. In this tradition, handpicked carvers carve new idols within 21 days.

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