Bhubaneswar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased Odisha's celebrated artistic traditions on the global stage during his visit to Norway, where he gifted an exquisite ‘talapatra khodei’ (palm leaf engraving) artwork and a silver filigree craft to members of the Norwegian royal family.
During the fourth leg of his five-nation tour, the Prime Minister met King Harald V and Queen Sonja and presented these gifts, highlighting Odisha’s centuries-old heritage of storytelling through palm leaf engraving and the delicate craftsmanship of Cuttack’s renowned silver filigree, also known as tarakasi.
Palm Leaf Engraving: Tree of Life
Modi gifted Queen Sonja a palm leaf engraving featuring the ‘Tree of Life’, a motif commonly associated with Pattachitra art. The intricate artwork features two large ‘Trees of Life’ at the centre, surrounded by 18 smaller ones within a traditional decorative border.
“Talapatra Khodei commonly features designs inspired by mythology, but this work is unique because the Tree of Life motif is rarely used in such a beautiful manner in palm leaf engraving,” said cultural researcher Anita Sabat.
The Geographical Indication (GI) application for palm leaf engraving is currently pending with the Geographical Indication Registry under the Union ministry of commerce and industry. The craft is primarily practised in Nayakpatana and Raghurajpur in Puri district.
Silver Filigree: Boita or Banijya Nauka
The gift presented to King Harald V was a silver filigree model of a boat, a traditional art form practised in Cuttack, popular as the Silver City. A GI-tagged craft, silver filigree work is currently sustained by nearly 300 artisans in the city.
“The boat design presented by PM Modi is called Boita or Banijya Nauka in local parlance. It is inspired by the maritime heritage of Cuttack,” said Pankaj Sahoo, a national award-winning silver filigree craftsman. He said the Prime Minister’s gesture would bring global attention to the craft, which is gradually declining.
Interestingly, like Cuttack, Norway too has a rich maritime history rooted in the Viking Age, making the symbolic gift particularly significant.
Reactions and Significance
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi thanked PM Modi for placing Odisha’s timeless artistic legacy at the heart of a significant diplomatic moment. “That two of Odisha’s most iconic art forms found their place in such a distinguished diplomatic exchange is a testament to the growing global recognition of India’s living heritage. It is, above all, a proud moment for the artisans of Odisha, whose hands carry forward an ancient legacy and whose creations now speak to the world,” Majhi wrote on X.
The gesture is expected to boost recognition for these traditional crafts, which face challenges from modernization and declining artisan numbers. The palm leaf engraving and silver filigree represent not only artistic excellence but also the cultural identity of Odisha.
