Odisha is abundant with vivid illustrations in the age-old style of wood carving practised by skilled artisans. Artists sets their work apart with the glossy surface of the wood, without using paint or lacquer coating.

The wood carving tradition of Odisha is deeply rooted in its folk culture. In regions like Khairpadar, Dharamgarh, Rengalpali, Jaipatna, and Bhawanipatna, skilled descendants of temple-building artisans continue to excel at this craft.

There are three main categories of wood carving: painted wooden toys, temple wood carvings, and wood turned items. Craftsmen use gambari, teak, and piasal wood to create pieces in a variety of colours. Specialised tools like kholom, batali, barasi, karata, khot kas and tai are used to shape and add intricate details. Sometimes, the sculptures are polished with wax to achieve a glossy finish.

Notable examples of temple carvings can be seen in the temples of Banki, Buguda and Kapilash. In Puri, artisans carve wooden figures with distinct large eyes inspired by Lord Jagannath. They mainly use neem, sidar, and sheesham wood. Cuttack specialises in white teak carving, while Daspalla carvers excel at both decorative and utility items made of rosewood.

Odisha’s wood carving is prominent in the revered idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra at the Jagannath Puri Temple. These finely crafted wooden deities are celebrated during the annual Rath Yatra. In a fascinating tradition, they are periodically replaced through a sacred Odia ritual called Nabakalebara. In this tradition, handpicked carvers discreetly carve new idols within 21 days.

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