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Jhoti Chita – The Living Tradition of Odisha’s Folk Art

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Jhoti Chita | localdrive

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What is Jhoti Chita?

Jhoti Chita represents a sacred and artistic tradition in Odisha, where rural women decorate the walls, floors, and courtyards of their homes. They make these designs using a rice paste, turning folk art into a heartfelt expression of devotion, celebration, and community.

The word “Chitta” comes from the Sanskrit word “Chit,” meaning eye. People call these designs “Chitta” because they look eye-catching and soul-stirring. The term “Jhoti” refers to the motifs and patterns that women typically draw using their fingers or twigs dipped in rice paste.

The Cultural & Ritual Significance

It isn’t merely ornamental; it’s deeply embedded in the religious and social life of Odisha.

Manabasa Gurubar & the Role of Jhoti

This is the most prominent occasion when Jhoti Chita is done. During this ritual, held on Thursdays in the month of Margashira (Nov-Dec), women draw stunning Jhotis in front of their Tulsi Chaura and doors to invite Goddess Lakshmi into their homes.

Associated Festivals and Rituals

  • Firstly, Amavasya (New Moon) for invoking Lord Jagannath
  • Secondly, Sankranti – transition of the sun into a new zodiac
  • Thirdly, Savitri Osha – married women fast for their husbands’ longevity
  • In addition, Ganesh Puja, Raja Parba, and even during weddings
Moreover, each of these occasions has specific patterns and placements, often symbolic—like the fish for fertility, lotus for purity, or Tulsi plant for fidelity.

Designs of Jhoti Chita

This sacred rice-paste art form of Odisha designs gracefully range from geometric symmetry to floral elegance, incorporating mythical symbols as well as everyday motifs like birds and creepers. Specifically, some popular types include:

  • To begin with, Kundali Padma – Lotus-like circular designs used during Guru Puja
  • Next, Tulsi Motif – Representing loyalty and spirituality in households
  • In addition, Fish & Conch – Serving as symbols of fertility and auspiciousness
  • Finally, Alpana-style folk designs – Commonly seen during marriages and harvest festivals
These intricate patterns are created on mud walls, floors, or doorsteps using a paste of soaked rice ground into a milky consistency.

The Artists Behind Jhoti Chita

What truly makes this heritage special is that it is a women-centric tradition. Typically, girls learn the art from their mothers and grandmothers, often improvising with each generation. Moreover, the bride carrying rice paste to her new home to draw her first Chita is a symbolic gesture of her acceptance into the new family.

Modernity vs. Tradition – The Changing Landscape

With the rise of concrete walls, dwindling availability of rice for decorative purposes, and increasing urbanization, this beautiful art form is slowly fading. As a result, many households no longer have the mud walls or open courtyards where Jhotis once flourished.

Yet, in places like Godhasalia village near Nimapara, the tradition is still alive, though struggling. Thankfully, efforts by cultural groups and academic institutions are being made to preserve and document this fading art.

People Also Ask

Q1. What is Jhoti Chita in Odisha?

Odia women create Jhoti Chita, a traditional rice-paste folk art, by drawing on walls and floors during religious and festive occasions.

Q2. During which festival is Jhoti most commonly drawn?

During the festival of Manabasa Gurubar, women prominently create this art to welcome Goddess Lakshmi into their homes.

Q3. How is Jhoti made?

Artists make this art using a paste of soaked rice, which they apply with their fingers or twigs to create intricate designs on mud walls or floors.

Q4. What is the cultural significance of Jhoti Chita?

It symbolizes devotion, purity, prosperity, and serves as a spiritual offering to deities during important Hindu rituals in Odisha.

Q5. Do people still practice Jhoti Chita today?

Rural communities still practice it, even though modernization has made it less common, and cultural groups are actively reviving the tradition.

Why This Ancient Ritual Art Deserves Preservation

This sacred rice-paste folk art is not just an art—it’s a living ritual that connects generations, empowers women, and keeps Odisha’s cultural fabric vibrant. Moreover, at a time when we’re rediscovering our roots and celebrating local traditions, preserving this traditional wall art becomes a mindful and meaningful choice.

Do you belong to Odisha or love traditional Indian arts? If so, try recreating a Jhoti Chita pattern at home during the next festival. Then, share it on social media using #JhotiChitaRevival and tag local cultural pages to inspire more people.

Or better yet, teach it to the younger ones around you. After all, let the hands that hold phones also hold the rice paste of our heritage.

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