Post News Network
Balasore: A seven-day-long Patidion Ankan Utsav 2018 was inaugurated by Nilgiri king Jayanta Mardaraj and queen Manoja Manjari Devi at Balaore’s Utkala Shilpagram, Friday.
The exhibition aims to popularise Jagannath culture among the masses and to create awareness about the importance of Patidion painting. Noted artists Keshu Das will draw a portrait of Lord Ananta Narayan (Jagannath), Arun Kumar Barik Ananta will draw the portrait of Basudev (Lord Balabhadra), while Babuli Kandi will draw Lord Bhubaneswari’s (Subhadra) portrait during the exhibition.
Interacting with visitors, Mardaraj said, “Jagannath culture has many mysteries. However, Patidion is an old tradition of Puri Srimandir and artists from Balasore are proving their mettle by drawing the finest of images”.
Keshu Das said that he will ensure opening Patidion painting learning hubs for school and college students during the exhibition, which will be held from June 22- 28. Around 12 artists are participating at the exhibition.
In his address, Collector Ramesh Kumar Rout said, “Patidion Ankana Utsav observes the Snana Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with 108 pitches of water. As per tradition, the Lords get fever and they are worshiped by Daitapatis and Raj Vaidya in Anasara Ghara secretly. At this time Patti Dians are worshiped in the Jagannath Temple at Puri.”
“In the Jagannath temples of North Odisha, the tradition of Patti Dian was introduced by Kesudas and he personally teaches Patti Dian paining skill to the participants during the eight-day camp. It’s great to witness such initiative by the artist, Rout added”.