Dilip Maharana, the son of the National Award winner, the late Arjuna Maharana, lives in a village called Dandasahi near Puri, Orissa. He practises his craft with his mother, wife, brother and sister. They are called "Maharanas" because  traditionally, their  duty was to renovate the images of Lord Jagannath in the sacred temple of Puri.

The 'renewal' of the temple images happens  only in a  leap year. During the rest of the time they continue to make paintings. Dilip has inherited from his father a book that contains designs made by generations of the Maharana family. Though the theme remains the same, the artist of each generation is likely to give a new perspective to a new work of art.