Mruttika - Bringing clay to life

Turning clay into decorative artifacts and jewellery is an ancient art that has survived and evolved with time. In fact in modern times clay artifacts has found wide scope in home décor and has adopted the most beautiful designing with acrylic textures.
 
Odisha celebrates the ancient skill of clay craft with the annual terracotta exhibition, Mruttika, hosted in Bhubaneswar where artisans from across the State present the traditional designs and shapes in contemporary art form. The exhibition is organised by the State Handicrafts Directorate and gives a platform to around eighty artisans, many of whom are National Award winners.
 
From the antique look of Harappan art showpieces like the tiny animal forms, rural scenes, jewellery pieces, clay pots and pans along with other utensils, one can also find new age décor items like tall vases with acrylic paintings on them to suit the  aesthetics of an urban living room. The Terracotta tablets and relief depicting scenes from village life are a collector’s delight.
 
Another attraction every year at this craft exhibition is the live display of pottery and the creation of versatile items like figures of women winnowing and threshing paddy, the snake charmer presenting snake dance, etc. One can also find various designs of earthen lamps or diyas.

Terracotta Exhibition Dates	Held around Diwali the festival of lights every year
Duration	5 days
Venue	Exhibition Ground, Unit-III , Bhubaneswar