The 1,400-year-old Pattachitra painting of Odisha is set to receive a major stimulus with the launch of a Geographical Indication (GI) logo to brand the unique art form across the globe.
Christened as 'Odisha Pattachitra', the GI logo will be launched at a formal workshop to be held at Hotel Keshari, Bhubaneswar, from 10 am onward on Friday.
The Odisha Pattachitra GI logo, developed by SAFMA, New Delhi, in association with the Odisha State Cooperative Handicrafts Corporation with support from the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Union Ministry of Textiles, will now share a space with other globally renowned GI logos like French Wines, Darjeeling Tea, Swiss Cheeses and Mysore Silk.
Pattachitra or painting on cloth is among the most distinct forms of Indian traditional paintings. Considered as one of the earliest forms of indigenous paintings, its origin can be traced back to the 8th century AD.
A GI is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin, e.g., a town, region, or country. The use of a GI may act as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, is made according to traditional methods, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.
The GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users or at least those residing inside the geographic territory are allowed to use the popular product name. Darjeeling Tea became the first GI-tagged product in India in 2004-05.
