JOIN USA naive village between Puri and Bhubaneswar, with a feast for the eyes of a craft lover, Pipli is home to an attractive appliqué work, which Odisha boasts of as its traditional artistry.
Once extremely popular in ancient Odisha, Pipli appliqué is the art of sewing small pieces of cloth on a basic fabric. Patronised by kings in its early phase, the traditional work of Pipli reached new heights, blending itself with modernity.
Pipli craft is also a familiar element in other cultural exuberance of Odisha as it is used with the rituals and traditions dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the supreme deity at the temple in Puri. Previously, Pipli was the supplier of tents, umbrellas, hand fans etc for the Jagannath Temple and for many other ritualistic festivals.
Now, it is also used to fabricate materials according to the choice of tourists and collectors of craft. Canopies, lampshades, garden and beach umbrellas, wall hangings and other decorative pieces of colourful Pipli appliqué flood the markets of Puri, Bhubaneswar or Cuttack. They are also exported.
The method of making this appliqué work is simple and traditional. Types of motifs are created from separate pieces of cloth and superimposed on the basic fabric according to a predetermined layout and design. The edges of the motifs are then stitched on the background material.
The motifs take the form of flora, fauna and mythical figures. The common ones are the figures of elephants, parrots, peacocks, dancing girls etc. Striking colours are chosen to highlight motifs, which are beautiful in appearance. Cloths of simple geometrical shapes are used to add to their beauty. A master craftsman usually applies six types of stitching patterns to a cloth — bakhia, ganthi, taropa, chikana, button-hole and run-stitch.
These appliqué articles are also perfect for daily use as they are priced reasonably. Colourful and durable bedspreads, pillow cases and cushion covers are produced on a large scale to meet the demand.
This handicraft has become a treasure hunt for souvenir collectors.