The first Museum Walk at the Odisha Crafts Museum, Kala Bhoomi, Gandamunda saw an encouraging footfall of 70 visitors on the introductory event. Senior citizens, working people, students, school goers and even kids were part of this interesting walk, which is conceptualised for the first time in Odisha.
Already the heritage walk under the tag Ekamra Walks has given a push to the culture enthusiasts a reason to celebrate the rich tradition of the State as it was known for art and craft, since time immemorial.
The galleries at the museum mainly constituted terracotta, traditional painting, wood carving, stone carving and temple building, metal crafts of bell, brass, dokhra and silver filigree, natural material crafts, Pipili appliqué work, tribal craft, pre weaving technique gallery and handloom gallery.
There is a workshop, amphitheatre andcafeteria.
Courtyard was filled with live music near the beautiful water body with tabla and flute recital and a performance of Sambalpuri dance at the amphitheatre, which was enjoyed by all walkers towards the end of the walk.
Sandeep Kumar from AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, came with six of his friends. Sandeep, a regular at the Ekamra Walks, said, “Being from Kerala, I had some exposure following my posting at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar.
However, today’s first Museum Walk at Kala Bhoomi gave me a different perspective regarding Odisha’s rich tradition of craft and handloom.’’
Monalisha Tripathy from Chakeisiani, who came to the museum with her family since morning, said, “Even with small kids, the time is really engaging inside as there are other ways to learn things like workshops and interaction sessions with artists.”
Saneeya Singh from the museum guided the visitors while archaeologist and co-founder of Viraasat-e-Hind Foundation Jitu Mishra explained the visitors about some of the displays and other aspects of tribal life and sociology.
Meanwhile, the 28th Monks, Caves and Kings at Udayagiri and Khandagiri attracted more than 20 participants and a majority of them were women.