Pipli is the capital of applique craft in Orissa.

Most of the work sold on the street stalls of Pipli is produced for a growing tourist market, however supurb craftwork is still produced and available if you have the time to look around. Where is Pipili situated? Pipli Sasan and Darji Sahi villages are better known as Pipli. They are nearly 20 km from Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orrissa. What are the tourist attractions of Pipli? The villagers of Pipli produce applique art, a process of cutting coloured cloth into shapes of animals, birds, flowers leaves gods, goddesses and other decorative motifs and stitching them over a piece of cloth. These creations are then fabricated into lampshades, handbags, cushion covers or even garden umbrellas. A famous example is the enormous appliqu canopies above the reigning deity of Puri, Lord Jagannath. How do I reach Pipli? The best way to reach Pipli is by availing the regular bus service from Puri town. The nearest railway station is Puri and the nearest airport is at Bhubeneshwar. Who are the host community? The 2 hamlets together sustain a population of about 224 families of various castes. Tailoring is the main profession. What is the vision for Pipli? The visitors will experience the intense local artistry contrasting with leisurely rural encounters. The project will facilitate genuine cultural and heritage work by the artisans and support activities in the social sphere, forestry

performing arts, organic farming and riverbank maintenance. What is the applique art? Appliqu is art, a process of cutting coloured cloth into shapes of animals, birds, flowers leaves gods, goddesses and other decorative motifs and stitching them on a piece of cloth. What are the food habits of the people? Rice is the staple food of this region. Fish is a delicacy in the villages. Art of Appliqu It is a decorative work in of Orissa and Rajasthan which a piece of cloth is decorated with glass pieces, metals, wood or metal wires. The craft is practiced in the region. Pipli, a place in Orissa is a main center of Appliqu work. The red, purple, black, yellow, green and white fabrics are mostly used in this craft. First, a base material in the shape of square, rectangle, circle or oval is prepared and then it is stitched onto the base cloth in aesthetic arrangements. After attaching the appliqu patches to the base cloth it is stitched. Punjab also has traditional appliqu work called 'Phulkari'. This craft is usually executed on shawls, and chunnis. While in Andhara Pradesh Banjara women wear blouses and headscraves decorated with appliqu and mirror work. Rajasthan has an appliqu or gota work. Shekhawati is an important center for this technique. Utility items like bags, lampshades, and tablemats are also decorated with this technique. ..Location : Across Orissa, but especially in Pipli village.

Started in : Earlier period of time.

Facts :

Applique is derived from the French word which is defined as art form of colored fabrics. The Applique work is the most famous art form that is present in the state of Orissa. This art and crafts are done by the skillful and talented artisans of Pipli village which is located from Puri at a distance of 40 kilometer. They make arts and handicrafts which we mostly used to decorate our house. The Applique work is made from past decades which are the major attraction of this state. The antique art and handicrafts are mainly seen on the street side and shops where the tribal sell. From the past few centuries that is from 850 years this form of art is continued in the state of India even today. The methods, technique, and the process of making the art and handicrafts are remained unchanged even today.

There are various different types of Applique work which are made by the artisans of Pipli village. It includes Bana, Mandant, Adhoni, Alata, Trasa, Chhati, Chandua, and many more. All these type of art is used during the festival Dola Jatra to offer their holy deities. The products that belong in the applique work are used during the ceremonies of Lord Jagannath. Originally, the art form is initiated as temple art. For making different art forms they used colored cloths which they cut and fold in different shapes like leaves, flowers, animals, birds, and other motifs that are stitched in the piece of cloth. These deigned cloths are used to cover furnitures or hang on the wall as a showpiece, beach umbrella, or lamp shades. The tribal of Pipli town made all the home decorative products with their own hand. They mostly made this from the waste material to a useful material. In the earlier century, the household linen and saris were decorated and designed in applique work.

The demand of this type of work increased more and more among the villagers that they made and sold in city area. While wandering on the streets of Orissa state, you can see majority of the shops and stalls are filled with antique collections of the applique work on colored fabric. The most common and simple design you can spot on the vivid fabric is of geometrical shape. They are mainly adorned with small mirrors in whole range of the shape which gives an exquisite look

to the fabric. At the border of the cloth a simple and attractive thread design is made as embroidery which makes the work more striking. For making the applique work four basic traditional colors are used, they are black, white, yellow, and red. In the past decades, apart from these colors no other shades were added in the art form.

But recently, green color was introduced in the art work for making the fabric more attractive. The art form of applique work is not only popular in Puri district, but it is also practiced in other regions like Barpali, Chitki, and many other places. If you plan to take a trip to the state of Orissa in your next weekend then make sure to visit some of the small textile industries that are present here. There are a number of small textile industries which manufacture some of the applique work forms on the piece of fabric. Originally, this art form was just a hobby, but today, it is one of the occupations for the tribal village.

How it is made :

To experience this art form, firstly practice on the dazzling fabrics which are colored in red, white, green, purple, yellow, and black. The craftsman first cut the piece of cloth into a desire shape like oval, circle, rectangle, square, etc. According to the shape of the piece, the art is designed on it, keeping the background in mind. Another pattern that is made in the art form is the raised motifs which are prepared by folding the fabric for several times. The literal grace of the applique art and craft lies in the complex stitches namely the chikan, turpa, guntha, bakhia, and many more. They are the most difficult form where the whole fabric is made by the thread work including the embroidery. The thread works that are prepared are very delicate which is made by the mysterious techniques.

Originally, the usage of small mirror and metal pieces are not used, but recently, they started using this which enhances the beauty of the fabric. Most of the women in the Puri village wear sari and dresses that are made from the applique work. The metal or mirrors are added to the cloth only after that the embroidery is stitched. After attaching and stitching all the area of the fabric it is then finalized and send to the market for sale. Mostly, the retailer charge a lot as such type of fabric or cloth are very expensive because they believe that the art is totally hand made

and lot of efforts are taken to do it. Majority of the family members in the village are involved in making the applique work. Among all the members of a family, only the skilled and talented persons create a beautiful and complicated design that seeks the attention of majority of the tourists. Both national and international visitors come to witness here just to see the making of this magnificent design from the fabric.

The applique work form is not only made in Pipli and Puri village, but it is also accepted by other regions and cities such as Punjab, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pardesh, and many more. Nowadays, the applique work is also designed even on the gowns, petticoats, blouses, and other

garments of women.

Pipli is a beautiful village on the main road that falls between Puri and Bhubaneswar. A weekend tour from Puri to Pipli might help the tourists to unravel the exotic beauty of Pipli and its adjoining areas.

Pipli in Orissa is known for its applique work. Applique work forms a major part of the handicrafts of Orissa. The applique work is a piece of art that is done by cutting beautiful pattern on a piece of cloth. Beautiful patterns depicting flowers, animals, etc are made, which are then stitched beautifully on another piece of cloth.

In Pipli, one can across rows of shops flaunting the applique work. The applique work in Pipli includes bed covers, letter cases, cushion covers, wall hangings, pillow covers, bed sheets, hand bags, canopies, garden umbrellas, etc.

It is said that the kings and nobility of Orissa had patronized the applique work. At one time, the applique work of Orissa is said to have reached the heights of excellence. In Orissa, kings engaged craftsmen in the Jagannath Temple. In 1054, Maharaja Birakshore is said to have appointed 'Darjis' to serve the temple. The 'darjis' provided regular supply of the items required for the rites performed at the temple. The village of Pipli was set up for accommodating the craftsmen of Orissa. Initially, the craftsmen only made banners, umbrellas and canopies for the festive occasions, but with the popularity of the art, the artisans started making many items of utility.

The craftsmen of Pipli also supplied the articles of utility to the maths and the monastic houses. But since Independence, the darjis have completely taken to making articles for the tourists.

On their weekend tours from Puri to Pipli, the tourists can unravel the beauteous village. The trip from Puri to Pipli might help the tourists to explore the village of Pipli.