Foreigners learn Odissi at Raghurajpur. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 20: Around 30 artists from 14 countries have camped at Raghurajpur heritage crafts village to take part in the five-week Raghurajpur International Art and Craft Exchange.

The exchange offers training by local artists in pattachitra, palm-leaf carving, stone carving, wood carving, painting the traditional Ganjapa playing cards, paper-mache and cow dung toys. Training in performing arts such as Gotipua, Odissi, Naga dance, horse dance and fire dance are also being conducted.

Far away from his home in the US, Jazz musician Matthew is learning Odissi music here. For the 25-year-old, this is the best time of his life.

“In the busy life back home where I had to focus on marketing myself as a musician everyday, my real passion for music and the motive of enjoying singing and composing was lost. I signed up for this workshop here to take a break and learn something new. Sitting in the veranda of the village huts and experiencing nature while practising music, coupled with the warmth of the people here have made it a special experience for me,” said Matthew.

Pedra, a young performing artist from the Czech Republic wears “alata”, the traditional red paint on her feet, and does not get tired of expressing her love for the village. “I love everything about the village. But it’s mostly the people and their hospitality that make Raghurajpur a beautiful place. “I was here last year at the first edition of this cultural exchange and could not help coming back. I have made many friends here and keep in constant touch with them through letters and emails,” said Pedra.

“For us, this has become a language-exchange programme. The campers learn Odia from us and we learn English from them. Learning English is important for us to interact with our customers from foreign countries,” said Raghunath Das, a young palm-leaf artist who has been invited for a project in Hollywood by a camper.

Valere from Canada loves the different representation of subjects in patta while Irish artist Diane says many of the patterns are similar to the traditional community art projects she has worked on back home. “But the natural colour they use here is unique. I will come back next year,” she said.

Susan from Ireland and Daniel Trivedy from Wales cannot believe how everyone in one village can be so skilled and yet so humble.

A senior artist in his sixties Ben, from the US, says being here in Raghurajpur feels like waking up everyday with someone giving you a big hug. He plans to create a big paper boat with every villager’s work on it or their hand imprint and sail it in the nearby river. His palm-leaf carving classmate Levina will make a children’s illustration book with palm-leaf carving. Sixty-four-year old Nancy, also from the US, and young artist Levina, have also started making impressive palm leaf art.

Local artist Harihar Moharana is creating palm leaf certificates for all the participants. Kshitish Das, an artist in his twenties and one of the organisers of the exchange programme, is glad with the response this year. “We are proud of the villagers and our artist participants, who interact so easily and fluently without understanding each other’s language,” he said.

“The state tourism department has now taken up the festival and so we are able to take the participants on tours every week and the Bhubaneswar and Puri Rotary clubs have helped us conduct the event,” he said.

“There is nothing like this anywhere in the world and this programme has become immensely popular. It’s not just the talent, but the warmth of the villagers that attract artists from all over the world,” said Carol Hummel, a US-based artist and the global co-ordinator of the event.

The festival began on October 13 and will continue till November 19.