KENDRAPARA: The Rath Yatra at the 400-year-old Sri Baladevjew temple, popularly known as ‘Tulasi Khetra’ at Ichapur in Kendrapara town, brings joy to the artisans who carve out beautiful images of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from wood. The festival means good business for the artisans who also make wooden toys and other decorative items. Bikali Moharana (74), the titular head of the craft persons of Ichhapur village, said the art has been helping around 10 families of the village earn livelihood.
Age defies Bikali’s ambidexterous skills as he speaks fondly of the craft. “After craving the images from the wood, we polish and paint those,” he claimed. Bikali said his son Nrusingh helps him in his work. “The nine-day festival is a big season for us to earn a few thousand rupees,” he said. However, Bikali is worried as the art form is no longer preferred as a means of livelihood by the present generation.
His concern is justified as the Government has not been keen on helping the artisans from the clutches of middlemen who buy the products at a pittance from the artisans and sell those in other cities at a premium. Bhikari Mohanty, an artisan from Bikali’s village, feels that the Government should form agencies through which the artisans can sell their products directly to the buyers. Balabhadra Pati, executive officer of Sri Baladevjew temple said the festival provides an opportunity for the artisans to promote the craft which gives the town’s car festival a unique identity.