Pattachitra Life Stories of Lord Krishna

Within the pattachitra narrative lies a rich history of Indian folklore. Episodes from itihasa that are to be found in no surviving texts, myths perpetuated through thought and belief as opposed to the written and the recorded word, and tales exclusively handed down by the elders – a pictorial representation of all of these is to be found in Indian folk art, from amongst which pattachitra is a highly distinguished tradition.

Pattachitra evolved from Sanskrit. When broken down into its two parts, Patta means cloth, and Chitra means picture. Hence, Pattachitra is a picture painted on a piece of cloth. This form of art is closely related to the cult of Shri Jagannath and the temple traditions in Puri. Believed to have originated as early as the 12th century, it is one of the most popular living art forms, and people in Odisha practice it to this day.