Odisha Tourism

All forms of dance are enriched by the culture and heritage of Odisha. Odissi is a distinctive dance form that has its origins in temples. Mudras in dance give different messages. Odissi dance mostly deals with the love theme of Radha and Krishna. Chhau dance is a form of tribal martial dance. There are three subtypes of the dance, based on the places of origin where the subtypes developed. Seraikela Chow was developed in Seraikela Chow of Jharkhand and Purulia Chow of Purulia District of West Bengal and Mayurbhanj Chow of Mayurbhanj District of Odisha. Dalkhai dance is most common as it is performed on festivals like Bhaijauntiya, Phagun Puni and Nuakha. Young girls mostly perform it while men play drums and play music. A dance form which is performed by a young boy is called Gotipua dance. Karma Naach is a dance performed to worship the god of fortune as Karma means fortune in Kosli Oriya.

The festivals celebrated in Odisha are a blend of history, traditions and rich culture. Some of the famous festivals of the state are the Kalinga Festival which is held in January at the Dhauli Shanti Stupa on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. It is celebrated to pay homage to Kalinga, an important part of modern Odisha. Many audacious war acts are performed on this day which are worth seeing. Chandan Yatra, a twenty one day festival, takes place in Puri. The deities are taken out on the water on beautifully decorated boats. Many devotees come together to worship their lord. Durga Puja is celebrated with great pomp in September-October. Huge pandals are decorated, and Durga Maa is carried around. Mantras are chanted and loud music is played during the procession. Finally the goddess is immersed in water. The Konark Dance Festival brings together eminent classical dancers from across the country. Watching them perform the traditional dance of Odisha is truly a feast for the eyes. The Puri Rath Yatra held in June-July is celebrated in the honor of Lord Jagannath. The colossal deities of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra are taken on chariots for religious pilgrimage. Puri Beach Festival is held at the beach in Puri. You can enjoy sand art, fashion and rock shows, delectable food and adventure sports.

The art forms and crafts of the state highlight the beauty and refined skills of artisans. Some of these are- Stone Carvings- In all the temples and monuments, the art of carving in stone has helped Odisha to attract tourists from all over the world. Intricate designs and patterns carved on various types of stone can be seen in the monuments of Odisha. Pattachitra- It is one of the traditional art forms of Odisha. Paintings based on Hindu mythology are made on handmade sheets, and natural colours are used. Raghurajpur Artists village in Puri is highly renowned for this art-form. Sand Art or carving of sculptors on sand is widely popular in the state. Silver filigree or Tarakasi is another art form through which not only jewellery items are made, but handicrafts are also designed. Applique work originated as a temple art. The artisans of Pipli have their mastery in applique art. Coloured clothes are stitched in various shapes. Other art forms and crafts include brass and dhokra works, paper mache, tassar patta and coir craft.

Oriya is the primary language spoken in this state, although people also use Munda and Dravidian languages. Hindi and English are also understood and spoken in the major cities of the state. While the majority of the population here practice Hinduism, there are also practitioners of Islam. Orissa does not lag behind when it comes to arts and crafts as the state's murals, cloth and palm leaf paintings are very popular along with ancient sculptures. Odissi is the traditional dance form of Orissa, while other dance forms include Chhau dance, Danda dance, Ghoomra dance, Animal mask dance, Kathi dance, Kedu dance, Ranpa dance, Paika dance and various tribal dances. There are also many theatrical performances like Daskathiya, Pala and Circus like Bounsa Rani which are an intrinsic part of rural/tribal Orissa. Silver filigree, locally called Tarakasi, is the unique and finest of all Orissan handicrafts, while Dhokra or brass and bell metal craft is perhaps the most important craft. Sambalpur, Berhampur, Cuttack, Nuapatna and Mayurbhanj are some of the important handloom centers as Orissa produces a wide variety of fabrics.