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An important but little-known art form of Orissa is illustration on palm-leaf that flourished along with the Orissan tradition of copying Kavya texts on palm-leaf manuscripts and illuminating them. This art form touched its zenith during the golden age of Oriya Kavya Literature in the 18 century when a large number of Chitra-pothis (illustrated palm-leaf manuscripts) were done.

Chitra-Pothi: Illustrated Palm-Leaf Manuscripts from Orissa traces the palm-leaf tradition of Orissa and the development of Oriya literature that provides the basis of palm-leaf art. It throws light on the making of the Chitra-pothis and the nature of the texts that were illustrated weaving into the larger canvas the patron, the scribe and the artist, as it goes on to analyse palm-leaf art: as illumination of the text and as an art form.