Cuttack Durga Puja: Explore Odisha’s world-famous silver filigree work

New Delhi: During Durga Puja celebrations, the most appealing aspect for visitors and devotees is witnessing gorgeous pandals and idols of Maa Durga. And Odisha’s Cuttack Durga Puja is globally popular for its exquisite silver filigree work on the idols of Goddess Durga and the backdrop. Also known as chandi medha, the ornaments are crafted from silver, displaying remarkable artistry. Some pandals even use as much as 2.5 quintals of silver for their medhas and spend a whopping Rs 3.5-4 crore on them.

Not only during Durga Puja, but chandi medha is used on all auspicious occasions in households in Odisha. Cuttack, popularly known as the Silver City of India, is famous for its centuries-old silver filigree work. The craft is believed to have been introduced in Odisha when the Mughals established their rule in India. The process is highly elaborate, using precision, patience and skilled handwork, apart from the creativity of the artisans. Let’s explore more about this art.

The filigree artists use basic hand tools to transform the silver wires into works of art. The process of creating even the simplest of filigree items is an intricate one and can involve a group of four to five people.

During Durga Puja, Cuttack showcases its silver filigree skills to the maximum. This highly skilled art form is more than 500 years old and is traditionally done by local artisans on the eastern shores of Odisha. Presently, the silver filigree workers are largely from the district of Cuttack.

Historians believe the art came to the state through its trade connections with Indonesia, as the art is similar to Indonesia’s style. The filigree artists use a blend of alloy and pure silver.

This silver filigree work has become the main source of livelihood for about 50 to 60 artisan families. Orders come not only for making new tableaux but also for cleaning and restoring existing ones, which itself takes at least 10-12 days. For many artisans, this seasonal work sustains families for the entire year. And it takes about a year to make a Chandi Medha.

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During Durga Puja, the goddess is lavishly adorned with silver ornaments. The silver crown, the lotus necklace, and her ten arms in silver ornaments make the idol truly appealing and thus attract visitors in large numbers.

For these artisans, their work is a way of showing devotion to Goddess Durga, who arrives once a year during Dussehra or Durga Puja to bless the devotees.