Odisha Wins Best Tableau Award

New Delhi:29/1/24: The tableau from Odisha, showcasing women empowerment, the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur, and the exquisite Pattachitra art, has won the first prize in Judges Choice category at this year’s Republic Day parade, the I & PR department informed on Monday.

The tableaus from Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have been adjudged second and third respectively. Sixteen states and Union territories had presented their tableaus at the parade.

The tableau from Odisha rolled down the Kartavya Path accompanied by Sambalpuri dancers during the 75th Republic Day parade on Friday after a gap of three years. The 45-ft long, 14-ft wide and 16-ft high tableau had two components – a replica of a Kandarpa Hati (a popular Pattachitra design depicting Krishna Leela where nine women are entangled with each other to form the shape of an elephant) and women artisans of Raghurajpur village in Puri. The central part highlighted the contribution of women to the global positioning of the heritage crafts village in Puri district while acknowledging their adaptation to technology and entrepreneurial skills in selling the handicrafts online.

The theme was pronounced with the intricately-made divine elephant Kandarpa Hathi as it depicted the unsurmountable grit, determination, skill and talent of women artists of Raghurajpur, while the “War Horse of Konark Temple” symbolised Odisha’s rapid progress in shaping a developed India.

The rear portion featured a heritage hut of the village, where women play a pivotal role in crafting Pattachitra and masks.

A big umbrella on the tableau denoted the “whole-hearted” support of the central and state governments to the artisans under the “Viksit Bharat” programme.

The tableau was designed by eminent artists Gajendra Sahoo and Kirti Kishore Maharana.

Notably, Odisha won the second prize when it had participated last during the 71st Republic Day parade in New Delhi with a tableau on Rukuna Rath Yatra of Lingaraj Temple. It included a replica of the Lingaraj temple, Nandi (the bull) and the Rukuna Rath. Odissi artists had also accompanied the tableau.