“Dhana Murti” from the land of the Bhottada Tribe in Odisha!
Bhottada is a tribe that belongs to the Koraput, Kalahandi, Balasore, Nabarangpur and Balangir district of Orissa. Their surname is Munda. So, they are also popularly known as the “Mundas”. The tribal in these areas are mainly dependent on agriculture. The unhusked grains are used in the “Dhana murti”..
“Dhana murti” known to many as paddy craft has a ritualistic evolution. The craft were mainly deity centric and was made with an aim to please some God. The villagers made Goddess Lakshmi idol immediately after the harvest in order to invoke her blessings for wealth and prosperity. Now a days, this community also makes Lord Ganesh and Goddess Saraswati idols, animals like elephants, chariots, turbans for marriage, lamps etc.
