150 Women Artists Create Traditional Jhoti Art
Traditional Jhoti Chita Competition Organized at Heritage Village Raghurajpur, Puri by Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi
Puri, 20/12 – In celebration of Manabasa Gurubar in the month of Margasira, and to promote visual arts across the state, the Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi, under the Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture, organized a Traditional Jhoti Chita Competition on 20th December 2023 (Wednesday) at the heritage crafts village Raghurajpur. The event saw the participation of 150 women artists from the village.
Director of the Department of Odia Language, Literature, and Culture, Shri Dillip Kumar Rautray, attended the program as chief guest and praised the women artists for their exquisite jhoti designs. He emphasized the cultural significance of Jhoti art in Odisha, explaining how it is deeply rooted in the everyday life and religious practices of the people.
Chairman of the Akademi, Shri Sudarshan Pattnaik, stated that the competition was aimed at encouraging the artistic growth of women. The guests expressed that the traditional Jhoti art of Odisha and the distinctiveness of Raghurajpur have the potential to attract greater attention and appreciation.
Participants beautifully created Manabasa-themed jhoti designs in front of their homes, making the entire village appear more aesthetic and vibrant. The streets of Raghurajpur were adorned with these decorative patterns, doubling the charm of the village.
On this occasion, all participants were awarded certificates of appreciation by the guests. A panel of judges selected the top three jhoti designs as winners. The judging panel included Smt. Ratna Manjula Ghadei and Smt. Yuvati Pratibha Bhol, who evaluated the entries.
The best artists will be awarded in a separate ceremony. Secretary of the Akademi, Shri Panchanan Samal, expressed confidence that this traditional Jhoti Chita event would inspire the next generation of young women artists.
The painting session began at 11 a.m., coordinated by District Culture Officer Hemanta Behera and Shri Sanyojana. The program was conducted under the supervision of the secretary. Village head Ananta Subuddhi, secretary Abhiram Das, and Bishwanath Subuddhi also extended their support.
