Raghurajpur is a heritage crafts village in the Puri district of Odisha. It is well-known for its Gotipua dance troupes, which are the forerunners of the Indian classical dance form of Odissi, and for its master Pattachitra painters, a form of art that dates back to 5 BC in the region. Additionally, it is the birthplace of one of the best exponents of Odissi and a Guru, Kelucharan Mohapatra. In addition, the village is the source of several handicrafts, including masks, papier mache, cowdung, and wooden toys, as well as Tussar paintings and palm leaf engravings.

The village was selected to be developed as the first heritage village in the state and was initially developed as a Crafts village in 2000. This came about after a two-year research and documentation project by INTACH, which began in 1998. The village quickly featured a rest house, an interpretation center, and commissioned artwork on the walls of the artists’ homes.

It also holds the unique distinction of being the only location where the age-old Patas adornment, which is utilized on the three chariots and beneath Lord Jagannath’s throne during the yearly Rath Yatra festival, which is held in the nearby pilgrimage town of Puri, which is home to the Jagannath Temple, is used.

PATTACHITRA

A piece of cloth called as Patta, or a dried palm leaf, is painted with a mixture of chalk and gum before being decorated with pattachitra murals. The prepared surface is then painted with elaborate and vivid images of many Gods and Goddesses, as well as scenarios from mythology, adorned with flowers, trees, and animals. “Raghurajpur Pattachitra paintings” are the source of the paintings on Tussar saris, particularly the Sambalpuri Saree that features Mathura Vijay, Raslila, and Ayodhya Vijay.

LOCATION

The town of Bhargabi (Bhargavi), a Hindu pilgrimage site, is located on the southern side of the river and approximately 14 kilometers distant. Travelers from Puri travel NH 203, the Bhubaneswar road, towards Chandanpur. At the Chandanpur Bazaar, travelers can turn right to get to Raghurajpur. From Chandanpur, the village is around 1.5 km away.