If you ‘Google’ Twin Cities across the world, India is probably going to be the winner in terms of numbers. Kolkata – Howrah, Ranchi – Hatia, Kochi – Ernakulam, Varanasi – Mughalsarai, Bhubaneswar – Cuttack only to name a few. If you talk about twin entities in terms of creativity & artisan marvel, then another two small villages will be the biggest contender for such. Raghurajpur – Pipili. Yes, probably, you also have not thought to connect both in a straight line. But, ask anyone who has visited both the places and gathered some invaluable contents from its streets. Pipili is equally creditable same as Raghurajpur and Raghurajpur has every right to sit at par with Pipili. So ultimately what happened? Despite being 40 km away within the state of Odisha, both the cities have enough contribution in local & national maps.
The Odisha Culture
Odisha (formerly Orissa) is known for its temples. Starting from the famous Ananta Vasudevan Temple to the mighty Lingaraj Temple, from the one and only Puri Jagannath Temple to the oldest Parasurameswara Temple – Odisha is always devoted to numerous Gods & Goddesses. But, being a land of heritage, apart from temples, it is rich in music, dance, culture, and creativity.
Such examples of creativity are showcased in the form of the President’s Award or something similar in almost all the houses of a village named Raghurajpur. Its Patachitra, sculpture, wall art decoration, and stuffed toys are famous for perfection, minuteness, and composure. Read “Raghurajpur – The Artisan Village” if you want to know about this unique craft village.
Pipili, At Last
But, this is Pipili. A village turned into a town off late, Pipili is the hub of all sorts of applique works found in Odisha as well as in entire Eastern India. Creativity has opened the gate to all types of visitors at Pipili and you won’t mind coming from any distance to see the stitching as well as embroidery of small colorful cloth pieces to give an amazing shape. Traditional designs, animals, flowers, and Gods are depicted using various forms like Chandua, wall hanging, lampshade, bag, pouch, wallet, and umbrella.
Specialty of Pipili
Till now, I’ve held the breath of those who are reading about Pipili for the first time and are not sure where exactly it is. It is in Odisha as mentioned before and only 20 km away from the capital city of Bhubaneswar. If you are coming from the Puri side, it is only 40 km by road. So near, yet hardly a few people pay a visit to the incubation center of quality applique works. It is a small locality with 20,000 odd people are staying within an area 0f 7 square km. Nearly every member of a family is involved in the creation of applique items. This is the major source of income for most of the people living in Pipili.
Quality Matters
The quality of applique works has made Pipili famous for centuries. Sometime in the 10th Century, during the Somavamsi dynasty rule, Pipili was set up as an Artisan’s Village. Since then, it is catering everywhere and on every occasion.
The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balavadra & Subhadra in Ratha Yatra time are incomplete without Chandua from Pipili. The tradition continues and the canopies are used in any religious festivals throughout the year.
The work involves sewing various colorful clothes onto a large canvas to bring out the picture of any entity or flowery decoration. Prominent colors like red, yellow, blue, white, black, and green are used to make the items more attractive.
All About Applique
The word ‘Applique’ has been derived from the French word “Appliquer” and Latin word “Applicare”. Both means, “to put on”. For those, who have no idea about ‘Applique’, this is for their information that it is stitching or patching cloth design using colorful small pieces on a larger canvas. The aim remains to give the canvas a definite shape.
There are two types of stitching in applique – one is Straight Applique where a fabric shape is sewn over a base layer and the other is Reverse Applique where two layers of fabric are laid down.
Then a shape is cut out from the upper layer to expose the lower layer. Every household in Pipili is expert in preparing such and they used to sell the products either to the local market or to the wholesale dealers.
India has a rich tradition of applique works especially in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, etc. But the quality of Pipili artisans is acclaimed all over due to its unique design and style.
Wanna know applique worker’s life in celluloid? Watch Varun Dhawan & Anushka Sharma starrer ‘Sui Dhaaga’ movie.
Pattern & Product
Starting from canopy to umbrella, from handbags to wall decoration items – Pipili’s mesmerizing applique works will bound you to collect more and more. Canopy (Samiana) & Umbrella (Chhatri) are the trademark of Pipili’s works. Being a hereditary craft, the tradition remains the same for decades.
Pipili is famous for the puppet, handbag, wall hanging, purse, cushion cover, pillow cover, tablecloth, etc. Specially to mention huge umbrellas lanterns majorly used in Diwali time.
Lampshades are also of center of attraction here in Pipili. Just add a bulb and connect it with your socket. Even a dull room also will be transformed into a vibrant one.
With traditional motif and designs, every product is worthy to be collected. You will find here items resembling Sun, Moon, Rahu, Lotus, and other flowers. Not to forget creature alike designs like peacock, parrot, elephant, duck, etc.
Credentials
Tourists from all over India and abroad pay a visit to this location. So, credibility is already there. Just for your additional peace of information, Pipili Applique Work has been registered as GI (Geographical Indications) Tag since 2008 under handicraft segment by Govt. of Odisha along with other 16 stunning items from the state itself. Even the year 2004 was the witness of yet another feather when a 54-meter long cloth depicting India’s Struggle for Independence has been listed in Limca Book of World Record as World’s Largest Thematic Applique Work.
Unknown Fact about Pipili:
Way back in 16th Century, Portuguese people came to Pipili for trade and business. They established factories and companies to export rice, butter, cotton as well as to import spices from outside. Pipili was a major hub in the entire business ecosystem and due to a mixture of local & foreign people, a creole was also in the place. For those, who are not aware of the creole language, there were several Indo-Portuguese creoles present in places like Goa, Ceylon, Daman, and else. Now extinct, these creoles were very popular once upon a time. Maybe due to this legacy, Pipili is still having a literacy rate of more than 75% that is actually above the national level.
Do Something Special
If things were right, then you could see the Pipili shops just beside the National Highway connecting Bhubaneswar and Puri. But, due to land disputes, the Pipili people stuck to their place and now you need to take a turn towards Pipili village from the NH. Take a break there, move around 50-60 shops on both sides of the road and if you are feeling interested, then try to reach those places where people are weaving marvelous items day and night.
Its My Style
I had the opportunity to visit those houses and spend hours with them. Somehow I was able to connect one of the cooperatives who run a store also in the locality.
Hundreds of village workers do prepare the artifacts from their home and this cooperative purchases the same from them. The selling price is fixed by keeping a very nominal amount as profit to support the artists. They are the same human being like you but with an extraordinary quality of creating unique items.
In most cases, people are doing the same using their hands. As a result, their eyesight decreases earlier than normal and other related pains used to happen after a certain age.
Embroidery machines have come to replace human effort, still, a large section of artists prefer their hands to create stunning items.
They are not rich, neither they want to buy an apartment in a posh locality. What they want only to carry on the legacy among the younger generation of people. Next-generation people are partially interested in this and a major section of people are leaving Pipili to nearby cities to earn a livelihood.
How to Reach Pipili
By road is the best option to reach Pipili. If you are coming from outside, then Bhubaneswar Airport or Rail Station will be your Arrival Point. Book a cab and it will carry you to Pipili. Alternatively, you can avail Mo Bus, the Govt Bus of Odisha. If you plan to visit Pipili while coming from Puri, roadways are the best option. You will love the smooth highway with no bumps no traffic.
So, next time when you are planning to go to Puri, do drop at Pipili if local handicraft matters to you at all.
Image(s) Source: Self
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