Click to play videoJajpur (Orissa): A sleepy village in Orrisa has a special mythological connection. The locals artisans here dress up the gods. And when it comes to mythological dramas, they say its the costume that defines the gods too.
55-year old Chaitan Nayak is a fourth-generation artisan from Narsinghpur in Orissa's Jajpur district - a village famous for its mythological costumes. Nayak makes costumes for the Ramayana, the Mahabharatha, and everything in between, and admits it isn't easy being a dress designer to the gods.
“These are all made by hand only 25 per cent of these are stitched by machines and take a lot of time,” says Chaitan Nayak, craftsman.
Artisans here put in two days each for every costume for a meager Rs 2,000 a month. However the craftsmen’s sons say they aren't willing to give up their tradition.
“It is our tradition no matter how little benefit we get out of it we cannot leave it,” says Chandan Nayak, craftsman.
Ramalila and Krishnalila organisers from UP, Bihar, Maharashtra and Delhi get their costumes from Narsingpur. But the craftsmen say the demand has fallen in the last few years.
“Now very few mythological dramas are played. People have switched over to social drama from that of mythological one. So accordingly the demand for such dresses has also reduced,” says Upendra Prusty, craftsman.
So the next time you want to play a role like me in a mythological dram you know very well to which village you have to go to look for those traditional dresses.
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