Patachitra Art on Palm Leafs

Palmleaf Engraving
Engraving and painting on palm leaf is one of the most ancient craft forms
not only in odhisa but also in the whole country, the origin of these art form marks the beginning of the documenting of written words and is therefore closely interwined with the literary traditions of the country, while palmleaf inscriptions and painting are available in several states in Bharat (India). It is in odhisa state(Orissa) that the craft reached perfection and achieved great excellence. In affluent families of the state, the birth of a child was celebrated by preparing horoscope (the position of the cosmic bodies at time of the birth) in the form of palm leaf inscription. Palm leaf painting mainly depicts pasttimes of Supreme Personalities of Lord Rama and Krsna in Ramayana, Mahabarat or stories from Srimad Bhagavatham. An entire engraving is done on three to four leaves stiched together is the form of a scroll.