Cuttack’s Silver Filigree – The City That Weaves With Silver

Walk through certain lanes of Cuttack and you may hear a particular kind of delicate hammering – not very loud, but constant. Look closer and you will find artisans bent over small benches, twisting and flattening fine silver wires into intricate patterns. This is tarakasi – Cuttack’s legendary silver filigree art.

From jewellery and crowns to decorative panels and miniature chariots, tarakasi work is detailed, patient and almost hypnotic to watch. The designs often include peacocks, flowers, conch shells and geometric forms that reflect both Odia culture and broader Indian motifs.

Each piece can take days or weeks to complete. Younger generations are sometimes hesitant to continue the craft because it demands long hours and careful eyes. Yet, many families still hold on, driven by pride more than profit.

Buying a piece of Cuttack tarakasi is not like buying factory-made jewellery. It is like buying a few hours of someone’s life, frozen forever in silver. When you wear it or gift it, you are silently telling the story of a city that continues to weave beauty with thin threads of metal and a lot of heart.