About
The stone carvers of Keshana
KichiShila brings the black stone idols of one small Odisha village to devotees and temples across India.
Khiching and Maa Kichakeswari
Khiching, in Mayurbhanj district, was the capital of the Bhanja kings between the 9th and 12th centuries. Maa Kichakeswari, their family goddess, was later the state deity of Mayurbhanj.
Her temple at Khiching is built of black chlorite stone and covered in carved deities. It was rebuilt in 1934 by Maharaja Pratap Chandra Bhanj Deo.
A village of carvers
Just past the temple lies Keshana, where families of all ages carve the same black stone by hand.
They work mostly in single blocks of stone, from small home idols to temple murtis many feet tall. KichiShila works directly with these workshops, so each idol you receive comes with a certificate naming the village and the workshop that carved it.
Our partner workshops
Visit or video call the workshop
Want to see the stone before you order? We arrange a video call with the artisan, or a visit to Keshana by appointment.