Paddy Craft

Paddy Craft is practised by the Bhottada community in Balangir, Kalahandi, Nawrangpur, Koraput and Balasore districts of Odisha. This craft is undertaken in the lean agricultural period. Unhusked paddy grains are individually knotted in between two parallel bamboo shafts to make paddy chains. These chains are then bent and tied to create various forms of deities and animals. Brightly coloured wool is wound to fill in the figurines.

The making of these figurines are also associated with rituals.  

Bhottadas mainly make figurines of lord Ganesh, goddess Saraswati and Lakshmi, peacock, elephants, chariots etc. They also make utility items like baskets and diyas.