A living museum in Cuttack
The physical folklore of Odisha.
ମିଶ୍ରଶାଳ — ଲୁପ୍ତସଂସ୍କୃତିର ବାର୍ତ୍ତାବହ
Handmade models of the carts, palanquins, instruments and tools of everyday Odia life; a mobile exhibition for schools and universities; research, internships and publications.
Visit
At-Mishraghara, Madhupatna, Cuttack 753010. Groups and schools by appointment.
Hours and directions →Collection
Fifteen handmade objects online, with Odia names, materials and use.
Browse the objects →Learn
Internships, summer camps, the international seminar and publications.
Education and research →Our purpose
Objects that are disappearing from daily life, remade by hand so that they can be studied, held and taught.
Mishrashala plays a crucial role in preserving Odisha’s rich folk culture and traditions through physical folklore. Facing modern challenges like declining youth interest and media influence, it involves local communities and uses technology to document and promote folklore, ensuring these traditions continue to thrive.
Collection
Fifteen objects, made by hand
Fifteen objects. The row drifts slowly and pauses when you hover, focus or prefer reduced motion — then it scrolls by hand.
Now and next
8 March 2026 · Cuttack
International seminar on Odishan indigenous physical folk instruments
With the Odisha Sahitya Akademi. Book of Abstracts Sampanlipi available to download.
News and notices
- 6 Nov 2025ଶାଳକାର ଡକ୍ଟର ଅଜୟ କୁମାର ମିଶ୍ରଙ୍କ ସାକ୍ଷାତକାରNihar Ranjan Satapathy, editor of Sahitya Charcha, interviews Dr Ajaya Kumar Mishra
- 6 Nov 2025ସାରସ୍ଵତ ସାଧକ ଭାବରେ ସମ୍ଵର୍ଦ୍ଧନାSarala Sahitya Sansad felicitates Dr Mishra as “Saraswata Sadhaka” on the birth anniversary of Padma Shri Kalindi Charan Panigrahi
- 6 Nov 2025ଜୟଦେଵ ଭଵନ, ଭୁଵନେଶ୍ଵରଠାରେ “ମିଶ୍ରଶାଳ” ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନExhibition at the annual festival of Jagatsinghpur Jilla Bikas Parisad, Bhubaneswar
- NoticeInternship letter — Rama Devi Women’s UniversityStudents at Mishrashala for internship, 2026
- NoticeCall for papers — international seminarOdishan indigenous physical folk instruments (Odia)
Exhibitions on the move
A museum that travels to its visitors
Founder and record
Dr Ajaya Kumar Mishra — folklorist, retired Associate Professor of Odia, author of more than 75 books.
PhD and D.Litt. from Utkal University; retired from S.V.M. Autonomous College, Jagatsinghpur; more than fifty years in folklore, literary criticism and education. Full biography →
- 40+
- Research projects
- 5+
- Publications
- 40,000+
- Students reached
- 20+
- Shows at institutions
- 10,000+
- Visitors
Figures as recorded by Mishrashala.
Exhibited at: Raj Bhavan, Odisha · Suravi Mela · Utkal University of Culture · Fakir Mohan University · Regional College of Education · Sailabala Women’s College · J.K.B.K. College · Rama Devi Women’s University · S.C.S. College · Government ITI, Cuttack · Govt Nodal High School, Bhubaneswar · Odisha Sahitya Akademi · Jagatsinghpur Jilla Bikas Parisad · Harrow, London.
Bring Mishrashala to your institution
Schools, colleges and universities can arrange an exhibition visit, a workshop or an internship. Tell us what you have in mind and we will reply with the details.