Pattachitra painting developed around religious centres in Odisha like Konark, Bhubaneswar and Puri, and recalls the ancient murals of the region dating back to the 5th century BC. These finely detailed works are created on layers of primed cloth or patta, and usually feature religious subjects, particularly the gods Jagannath, Vishnu and Krishna. Pattachitras were originally used for worship in lieu of deities on days when the temples were inaccessible because the idols were being bathed.

Pattachitra paintings are created using extremely fine brushes and colours derived from natural sources, including the conch shell and lamp soot. The theme is sketched with a pencil and then outlined with a fine brush. After the paintings are completed, they are coated with a mixture of lac and resin for preservation.