Sadeibareni, about 20 km from Dhenkanal, is the best-known of the dhokra villages of central Odisha — a cluster of 80-odd families practising the ancient lost-wax bronze-casting technique. Visitors are welcome to walk through the lanes and watch the entire process: clay cores wrapped in wax cord, encased in mud, baked, then filled with molten brass that displaces the wax to leave the cast figurine.
The output is mostly tribal-themed figures — dancing girls, elephants, peacocks, oil lamps, ornaments — sold both at the village and in shops in Bhubaneswar. Prices are noticeably better at source. Late morning is the busiest casting time.