Tarakasi or silver filigree is one of the expressions in silver craftsmanship. In Odiya language, tara means wire, while kasi refers to design. Cuttack, in Odisha, boasts of a centuries-old tradition of Chandi Tarakasi. It is now known as the 'Silver City of India'.

The craft flourished during the Mughal rule. Other parts of India have also been a significant hub of silver filigree work, like Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

The earliest evidence of filigree ornaments in India are from Andhra Pradesh. They are circular filigree ear pendants in gold dating back to the early Kakatiyan/Chalukyan period (10th or 11th century AD). Later, gold discs with filigree work on their rim were found dating back to the 17th Century, Vijaynagara period. Hubs of silver filigree work include Cuttack in Odisha, Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh, Srinagar in Kashmir, Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, Agartala in Tripura, Kota in Rajasthan and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.

The artisans first convert blocks of pure silver into delicate, hair-like wires using a wire-drawing machine. They are then heated before being carefully wound around a charkha (spinning wheel). After the wires are flattened, they are arranged into intricate zigzag patterns. Fine threads of metal are curled, twisted and plaited, then joined with gold or silver soldering with a blowpipe. This craft has three distinct types: fine, non-fine, and superb. Each of these categories is further divided into silka (frame), rua (small balls), and gopal (rose).

The silver filigree work of Cuttack in Odisha has placed the city on the world map. Initially, artists worked on trinket boxes and jewellery for women. Now silver filigree has evolved to create lattice backdrops for the Durga idol in Odisha. Silver filigree is also used to embellish pandals and other large-scale work. The artisans can clearly adapt to work on a variety of designs.

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