Threads of Tradition: A glimpse into the art and economy of applique work in Pipili, Odisha

This paper explores the Pipili appliqué (Chandua) craft of Odisha as a live craft economy entangled with ritual practices, labour systems and market forces. Pipili appliqué is still very much tied to the religio-cultural practices of the Jagannath tradition, it has remarkably changed from being mainly a ritual practice to a market-oriented commodity The paper states that the craft economy of Pipili is marked by a conflict between cultural continuation and market adaptation, with authenticity, labour, and value being constantly redefined.