Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22 (UDN): A new bilingual publication documenting Odisha’s traditional Chandua craft and the lives and labour of its artisans was unveiled at the Odisha Research Centre in Bhubaneswar during the concluding session of the Odisha Craft Odyssey Symposium 2026.
Representational Image
Titled ‘Chandua: Canopies of Labour’, the book has been published in both Odia and English and is based on nearly nine months of field research across 45 artisan clusters in Odisha.
Documenting Craft Beyond Its Visual Appeal
The publication seeks to capture the knowledge, skills, traditions and working practices that have sustained the Chandua tradition across generations.
As part of the research, the authors interacted with more than 255 artisans and undertook field studies, archival research and documentation of their life stories.
The book goes beyond documenting the finished craft products, focusing on the processes involved in Chandua-making as well as the experiences and challenges of the people whose skills keep the tradition alive.
Focus On Preservation And Research
The publication is intended to serve as a resource for researchers and others interested in Odisha’s craft heritage while contributing to efforts to document and preserve traditional knowledge.
By recording the techniques, labour and lived experiences associated with Chandua-making, the book places artisans and their knowledge at the centre of the documentation process.
Craft Symposium Brings Experts Together
The book was unveiled in the presence of Vishal Kumar Dev, Additional Chief Secretary of the Energy, Electronics and Information Technology Department, who attended as the chief guest.
Padma Bhushan awardee and designer Rajeev Sethi was present as the guest of honour.
The Odisha Craft Odyssey Symposium 2026 also featured panel discussions on art, crafts, research and anthropology, bringing together perspectives on Odisha’s traditional craft practices and their cultural significance.
The launch of Chandua: Canopies of Labour marked the culmination of the symposium’s efforts to spotlight the knowledge systems, creativity and labour embedded in the state’s diverse craft traditions.