Raghurajpur is the village of national and international level tourist attraction, in Puri District of Odisha. This village is shaded with coconut trees and palm trees. This village in Puri District of Odisha consists of artistic works like wall paintings, Patta Paintings, Palm leaf engravings, Stone carvings, Paper made toys and masks, Wood carvings, Wooden toys, Cow-dung toys and Tasser Paintings.
Artistic Propositions of Raghurajpur
The artistic propositions of Raghurajpur is also complemented by a living tradition of performing art known as Gotipua, the earlier form of Odishi dance. Padmabibhusan Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra, the doyen of Odishi dance was born in Raghurajpur and had his early trainings in Gotipua tradition.
Raghurajpur is known as the heritage crafts village famous for its master Pattachitra painters, an art form which dates back to 5 BC. The Gotipua dance, the forerunner to the Indian classical dance form of Odissi is also practised here. In the year 2000, after a two-year research and documentation project by INTACH, starting 1998, the village Raghurajpur was chosen to be developed first as heritage village of Odisha and was then developed as a Crafts village.
It also has the difference of the only place where the traditional decoration called Patas, used under the throne of Lord Jagannath and on the three chariots during the annual Rath Yatra festival that takes place at pilgrimage town of Puri, some 14 km away, known for the Jagannath Temple.
Location of Raghurajpur
Raghurajpur is situated amidst groves of coconut, palm, mango and jack fruit, the main village has two streets with over 120 houses, most decorated with mural paintings, where the painters reside and practice their pattachitra craft, besides many other that practices throughout the village, including traditional masks, stone idols, papier mache, sculptures, wooden toys Raghurajpur also consists of a series of temples dedicated not only to Bhuasuni, the local deity but also to various Hindu Gods including, Radha Mohan, Gopinath, Raghunath, Laxminarayan and Gouranga.
Festivals of Raghurajpur
Raghurajpur is also the place of the "Basant Utsav", which is known as "Parampara Raghurajpur", which was first organized in 1993 under the aegis of State Tourism Department and Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata, held in February 4 and 5 every year.
In Raghurajpur, one can see and buy a lot of their beautiful items manifested with aesthetics and associated with socio-cultural values which disappeared several cultural objects and its identity and many more culturally significant beautiful objects have been missing from the heart and mind of the artisans. "Parampara" is a prominent cultural institution in Puri District which aims at promotion and preservation of tradition and folk culture arts and crafts.
Patachitra Paintings of Raghurajpur
The Patachitra paintings are made over a piece of cloth known as "Patta" or a dried palm leaf, which is first painted with a mixture of chalk and gum. Over the prepared surface, colourful and intricate pictures of various Gods, Goddesses and mythological scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata, with ornamentation of flowers, trees and animals are then painted. The paintings on Tussar saris, especially the Sambalpuri Saree depicting Mathura Vijay, Raslila and Ayodhya Vijay owe their origin to `Raghurajpur Pattachitra paintings`.
To Reach Raghurajpur
Raghurajpur is easily accessible through roadways and railways. One has to get down at Chandanpur which is 10 kilometers from Puri and 50 kilometers from Bhubaneswar on National Highways-203, connecting Puri and Bhubaneswar. From Chandanpur, one has to take cycle-rickshaw or walk on 1.8 kilometers zigzag scenic village road to reach the village. There is a small Railway station at Janakadeipur (Chandanpur). One may also hire a taxi either from Puri or from Bhubaneswar to reach the village of artistic beauty.
