Odisha craft tradition documented in new bilingual publication

A new bilingual publication titled ‘Chandua: Canopies of Labour’ has been unveiled at the Odisha Research Centre in Bhubaneswar. The book, published in both Odia and English, documents the traditional Chandua craft and the lives of its artisans.

Based on nine months of field research across 45 artisan clusters in Odisha, the work includes interactions with more than 255 artisans. The publication aims to go beyond visual aesthetics to record the specific knowledge, skills, traditions, and working practices that sustain the craft. It also documents the lived experiences and challenges faced by the people involved in the process.

The book was launched during the concluding session of the Odisha Craft Odyssey Symposium 2026. The unveiling was attended by Vishal Kumar Dev, Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy, Electronics and Information Technology Department, and guest of honour Rajeev Sethi. The symposium also included panel discussions regarding art, crafts, research, and anthropology.