Filigree workshops

A visit to Cuttack, also known as the Silver City, is incomplete without witnessing its Tarakashi (silver filigree) craft. In fact, it is the silver filigree work that has put Cuttack in the world map. The city is home to nearly 2000 Tarakashi artisans who had inherited the craftsmanship from their forefathers. The filigree workshops can be found at Dolomundai, Nayasarak, Choudhary Bazaar, Balu Bazaar and Bania Sahi, among other places in the city. The craft, which dates back to 500 years, includes creating thin strands of silver wires that are used to make a wide range of jewellery, utility items and exquisite showpieces and utensils that are marketed globally. Artisans bend these silver wires into different sizes and create designs out of them. The silver wires are of extremely high quality. Ornaments like necklaces, ear pendants, brooches, anklets, hairpins, bangles and those worn by the Odissi dancers are some of the items manufactured. Some artisans have even made replicas of the Taj Mahal and the Konark Temple in Tarakashi. The beauty of Tarakashi craft can be seen during the famed Durga Puja of Cuttack when, the idol of the Goddess is put up against a massive backdrop that is designed with only silver filigree. Every Durga Puja pandal uses backdrops made up of silver filigree during the festival.