A restoration project in a remote village in Odisha’s Kalahandi district has led to the discovery of exquisite terracotta relief panels hidden behind centuries of lime plaster. The panels, belonging to the 10th-century Somavamsi Dynasty, depict rare scenes from the Panchatantra and various local folklore traditions involving forest deities.
Art historians are amazed by the preservation of the mineral pigments, which have remained vibrant due to the protective plaster layer. This discovery adds a significant chapter to the study of temple aesthetics in the Mahanadi river basin and the spread of Tantric-influenced art in eastern India.