Odissi is a visual art form creating dynamic visuals on stage with the help of costume, make-up and jewellery; this is exactly where ‘Aharaya Abhinaya’ steps in. 

Odissi dance is complemented by intricate filigree silver jewelry pieces. Filigree, in French, means “thin wire”, and in Oriya it is called Tarchasi. This highly skilled art form is more than 500 years old and is traditionally done by local artisans on the Eastern shores of Orissa. The jewelry pieces themselves are an important part of the Odissi dancer’s costume and is comprised of the tikka (forehead ornament), allaka (head piece on which the tikka hangs), unique ear covers in intricate shapes (kappa), usually depicting a peacock’s feathers, with jhumkis (bell shaped earrings) hanging from them, two necklaces- a smaller necklace worn close to the neck and a longer necklace with a hanging pendant, and two sets of bangles worn on the upper arm (bahi chudi) and wrist (Kankana). The process of creating each piece takes the collaboration of many artisans each specialized in one step of the many that turns a lump of raw silver into a handcrafted work of art.

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