If you walk around any village in Odisha, you are bound to come across beautiful alpana (rangoli) made by women on mud walls with rice paste, using their hands as paint brush. This is one of the many called ‘Jhoti’ woven in colours of the morning sunrise. Jhoti or Chita is the traditional Odiya art on the floor and walls, very popular in the rural areas. Jhoti is quite different from Rangoli. While Rangolis are made using coloured powders, Jhoti involves line art using the traditional white coloured, semi liquid paste of rice or pithau. The fingers are used as brushes in this art form.
The “Lakshmipada” is a very popular theme for a Jhoti or Alpona (in Bengal) and represents goddess Lakshmi entering a home and being revered. This can be drawn in the verandah, the courtyard, or at the puja place of a home. The symbol of the Lotus is frequently used in this Jhoti to associate it with the goddess of prosperity who is usually adorned by them and is also seated in one. No colour other than the white of the semi liquid rice paste is used here as this is a sacred Jhoti. Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes wisdom, wealth and fertility sits on the Lotus flower, holding the same in two of her four hands. The Lotus seat and pedestal have an almost universal appreciation with the figures of Hindu mythology. The rosary made of
seeds of Lotus is used for prayer. Intricate and beautiful floral designs, the lotus, elephants, symbols used in Patta chitra find place in this form of free hand drawing. Small footmarks of Goddess Lakshmi are a must in any Jhoti.
The Jhoti or Chita are drawn not merely with the intention of decorating the house, but also to establish a relationship between the mystical and the material; thus, they are highly symbolic and meaningful. Jhoti is considered as a means to attract Goddess Lakshmi, hence prosperity into homes. It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi never visits a house if it is untidy and dirty.
