Here are 10 things you should know about Odisha Culture:

1. Architecture
The finesse and grandeur of Odisha's architecture is exhibited in its temples that the
Aryans left behind. Some of them are among the finest in the country. Of these, the
most important are the Lingaraja Temple, Bhubaneswar (11th century), Jagannath
Temple at Puri (12th century) and the great Sun Temple at Konark (13th century).
And hence, the golden triangle of Odisha - Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri
contributes the maximum amount of tourism goodwill. They are primary temples
built in the style of 'Kalinga' architecture.
Lingaraja Temple
The largest of all temples that the Temple City of Bhubaneswar boasts of, it is one
of the major tourist attractions of the state with over 6000 visitors on a daily basis.
Here, Lord Shiva is worshipped as Harihara, a combined form of Vishnu and Shiva

Lingaraj Temple, Bhubaneswar Overview

The Lingaraj Temple is an ancient temple situated in the city of Bhubaneswar and is
the largest one situated in the city. Dedicated to Lord Shiva as the name suggests,
the temple was built in the 7th century by the King Jajati Keshari. It is highly revered
because of the fact that the Linga here, which is the phallic form of Lord Shiva, is
believed to have appeared naturally. It rises to a massive height of 8 inches above
the floor level and is about 8 feet in diameter as well. Lingaraj Temple is located in
the old part of Bhubaneswar Town and can be easily reached using local transport.

The edifice of the temple is a great example of the Odissi style of architecture and
has intricately designed stone vaults covering the main sanctum of the temple. A
small temple dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati is located in the northwest corner of
the courtyard as well. However, entry is restricted to the followers of the Hindu faith
only. The Lingaraj Temple is especially famous for its Mahashivratri celebrations
when the whole sanctum is dressed up in flowers, lanterns, and lights.<br>The
temple has as many as 6,000 visitors on a daily basis with Shivratri being a major
day of celebrations when this number surges to as many as 200,000 visitors.

Jagannath Temple

The coastal town of Puri enshrines Lord Jagannath in this colossal temple. It is one
of the Char Dham pilgrimages that one is expected to cover at least once in his
lifetime. The temple is world-famous for its annual chariot festival or Rath Yatra.
Sun Temple

Designed in the silhouette of a gigantic chariot along with seven horses and twenty-
four wheels, this entire temple was conceived as a chariot of the Sun God. It reflects
the remarkable genius of architects that envisioned and went through with it. A
UNESCO World Heritage Site, the precision and intricacy of its sculptural work is
worth seeing.

Situated on the northeastern corner of Puri, Konark Sun Temple is a UNESCO

World Heritage site and one of the prime tourist attractions of Odisha. Built in the
form of a giant rath or chariot of the Sun God, it depicts the chariot being pulled by a
set of seven horses, four on the left side and three on the right. It has three deities
dedicated to the Sun God on three different sides of the temple which catch the
direct rays of sun in the morning, afternoon and evening. There is also a dedicated
archaeological museum inside the temple complex. The temple transforms into a
stage during The Konark Dance Festival, which is held every year usually in
February and attracts a lot of foreign and Indian tourists — dedicated to devotees of
the Sun God.

Konark Sun Temple is one of the last standing structures before the fifteenth
century in the country. The sun rays reach the Nata Mandir from the coast and
reflect through the diamond at the centre of the idol. The idol is believed to float
mid-air due to arrangements of the magnets at the top of the temple but they were
later removed due to the disturbance caused to coastal voyages. An engineering
and artistic masterpiece, The Sun Temple has been standing stoically for the last
two thousand years. Despite much of the temple in ruin, it still reflects the artistic
genius of architects and sculptures of the time.
2. Arts Culture of Odisha
It is impossible to list every form of visual art and craft this uber-talented state
boasts of but here are some of the best-known ones:

Pattachitra (Cloth Painting)

Literally, 'Patta' translates to cloth and 'Chitra' means picture. The themes and
motifs are mythological, typically revolving around the Jagannath and Vaishnava
sect. Lord Jagannath and Radha-Krishna paintings are a rage among buyers.
Pattachitra showing Ganesha and Shiva. Since it is a traditional art-form, the
Chitrakara's (painter) very home is his own studio where his family members act as
helping hands. The final painting is rendered in the form of a design on a canvas
with decorative borders. Sometimes, palm-leaves are also used to form the canvas.
Rock Paintings

Rock art in Odisha dates back to the prehistoric period according to the earliest
reports found at Viramkhol in Jharsuguda district. With the reign of Ashoka the
great, Buddhist sculptural art gradually changed the degree of Odisha's artistic flair.
Even today, the caves of Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri and Udaygiri have not faltered to
showcase the wonderful legacy of sculptural brilliance that some of our finest
carvers left behind.

Sand Art

With clean, fine-grained sand and water as its raw materials, this is an indigenous
form of art that found its origin recently if a comparison is drawn to the other forms
of art. It is practised on the beaches of Puri with subjects ranging from Hindu deities
to international occasions. With the help of tourism, this art-form has developed
exponentially and found worldwide recognition.
Silver Filigree

Locally known as 'Tarakasi', this art form is about 500 years old. It hails from
Cuttack, a.k.a the Silver City of Odisha (now you know why). The process consists
of drawing silver through a series of consecutively smaller holes to produce fine
strands of wire. Usually, Tarakasi jewellery is used to embellish Durga idols during
Durga Puja in Cuttack and by Odissi dancers.
Appliqué Work

This is a famous fabric craft originating from a village called Pipili where locals call it
'Pipili Chandua Kama'. Unknown to many, Pipili holds an entry in the Limca Book of
Records for the world's largest thematic applique work.
Like Pattachitra, appliqué work also originated as temple art, essentially limited to
umbrellas and canopies to be used in the annual Rath Yatra. Nowadays, its usage is more
in the household, decorative and festival products. The craft involves embroidery and
stitching with occasional mirror work.

Brass and Dhokra Works

A 4000-year old craft form, Dhokra is a casting method that combines metallurgical
skills with wax techniques. It is a bell metal tribal craft that uses an alloy of tin and
copper or brass and zinc. Various utility items including utensils, pots and pans,
lamps and even tribal jewellery are fashioned out of it.
4. Dance
Originally performed by Devadasis, Odissi bears the closest resemblance to temple
culture than any other existing form of dance. It traditionally depicts the divine love
between Lord Krishna and his consort Radha, drawing inspirations from the lyrical
compositions of poet Jayadeva. The dance basically involves a mythical story,
symbolic costumes, abhinaya (expressions), mudras (gestures) and is extremely
graceful.

Chhau

This is a form of tribal martial dance that originated in Mayurbhanj. Two groups of
dancers armed with swords and shields, alternatively attack and defend themselves
with vigorous movements and elegant stances all to a background music noted for
its rhythmic complexities and vigorous percussion.

6. Language
The Official language spoken by the majority of the population is Odia. The
language of the state belongs to the Indo-Aryan family that is closely related to
Bengali and Assamese. The Adivasis of the state still speak few tribal languages
that belong to the Dravidian and Munda language families.

7. People of Odisha
With 95% of the populace following Hinduism and over 62 tribal communities
residing on the same soil, people of Odisha live in harmony with mutual respect for
minorities. It is said that the state stands as a coastal corridor between the northern
and southern parts of the country. As such, it marked the assimilation of cultures of
both Aryans and Dravidians in the days of yore. Owing to this and being mostly
rural, Odias are a religious bunch but definitely not communal. Odisha is also a
state with one of the lowest crime rates.

Tribals of Odisha

Finding joy in the simple pleasures of life, its people are down-to-earth with minimal
needs. The state may be slow in terms of development and poor in terms of
economy, but a bowl of pakhala (water-soaked rice) is all it takes to put a smile on
an Odia's face. Culture and tradition stand as strengthened pillars of any Odia
household's upbringing. With humble and open arms, the state welcomes any guest
as its own. Humane, kind and helping - you may not speak the same language but
you are sure to feel at home.

8. Cuisine
If you're from Bengal, you are going to find multiple similarities between the two
cuisines. But the fact that your ultimate love, Rasogolla actually originated in Odisha
will wow you!

And to address the mystery of the general pot-bellies, Odias love rice. It is the
staple around here. Compared to cuisines of other states, Odia cuisine uses less oil
and spice but packs in a bountiful dash of flavour.
A typical Odia meal consists of rice, dal/dalma (a kind of dal cooked with nutritious
vegetables), a vegetable dish or two, something fried and a fish/meat curry.
Traditional dishes like Pakhala (water-soaked rice), Chhena Poda (a roasted
cheese dessert) and Mansa Tarkari (meat curry cooked with potatoes) are loved all
over the state irrespective of innumerable dialects, uniting natives together.

9. Festivals
Major Odia festivals that bring together people from all backgrounds together are:

Ratha Yatra

The annual chariot festival held at Puri, which is flocked by millions of devotees. It
involves transporting idols of deities namely, Jagannath, Balabadhra and Subhadra
on a grand chariot from the Puri temple to the Gundicha temple who stay there for a
period of nine days.

Prathamashtami

Celebrated to pray for a long life for the firstborns, it is a major winter festival. The
sweet, delectable delicacy Enduri Pitha is made especially for this occasion.

Rajo

A three-day festival celebrated in mid-June, this is a significant occasion for girls as

it is dedicated to the worship of earth Goddess. Swings are played on and pithas
(special rice cake delicacies) are exchanged.

Durga Puja

If there is any place after Kolkata that is a must visit during Durga Puja, it is
Cuttack. Richly decorated idols are installed in pandals, bringing about a uniform
spirit of holiness in the state. Both Navratri and Vijaydashmi are celebrated with
huge pomp and show.
Maha Shivaratri

Considered as the night on which Lord Shiva performed his Tandava dance, it is
celebrated by observing fast and visiting Shiva temples. Married women pray for the
well-being of their spouses and unmarried women pray for an ideal husband.

People across Odisha celebrate Shivaratri with gusto. Apart from these traditional
festivals, Odisha has highlighted its culture by bringing into focus various fests.
While the Dhauli Festival, Kalinga Mahotsav and Rajarani Festivals focus on music
and dance, the Beach Festivals of Chandipur in Puri showcase handloom, cultural
talent and food exhibitions.

10. Clothing
Even though modernity has manifested its roots deeper than ever, a tradition in the
form of outfits still has a special place in native hearts.

Women adorn themselves with saris mostly, the famous ones being - Kataki,
Bomkai and Sambalpuri. The Sambalpuri Ikat saris are the most sought-after buys
made by tourists. Even though its tie and dye process is borrowed from Indonesia,
the designing is indigenous and original with weaving practices and techniques
unparalleled in other parts of India.
Men traditionally sport the Dhoti-Kurta along with the Gamucha (a thin, coarse cotton
towel).

Odisha may be still catching up to the fast-paced ways of urbanity and it may not even be
on top of your must-visit places, but one cannot deny the charm that small towns always
carry. The sense of satisfaction that you will get while relishing a plate of Bhaata -Dali-
Bhaja (rice-dal-fry) at a small eatery, enjoying a free-wheeling conversation with the
friendliest locals, remains unmatched.
Inspirations ...
Grass Routes draws inspiration from the everyday extraordinary people we meet, the enduring natural
landscapes we encounter and the thriving traditional cultures that have enriched our lives. Listed below are
just some of the wonderful people, places and cultures you’re likely to discover on a Grass Routes journey.

Culture - Art as Life

Grass Routes celebrates ancient, living traditions that miraculously continue to thrive. We seek out the
source of a community’s culture to understand its context and value, and share it with our travellers. Art
and craft is a traditional form of cultural expression in Orissa. Maintained over centuries, at times
unchanged, other times evolving, it forms the fabric of many lives. We meet the people behind the products
and discover what it means to paint mythology, drum primal rhythms and weave symbolic stories.

Sun Temple at Konark Bathed in the rays of the rising sun, theUNESCO World
Heritage Site at Konark is a monumental representation of the Sun God (Surya)’s chariot. Just as the sun
measures time, the chariots 12 wheels (each 10 feet high) mark the monthly cycle of each year, each wheel
has 16 spokes that work as giant sun-dials measuring the hours of daylight in each day and the 7 horses
that draw the chariot symbolize the 7 days in a week. Built in the 13th century by King Narasimhadeva of
the Ganga dynasty, the Sun temple (also known as the Black Pagoda) is also a salute to procreation and
fertility and has a plethora of erotic sculpture adorning its walls. Check out our Beach Camp at Konark.

Buddhism has deep roots in Odisha. Most significantly it was here that Emperor
Ashoka was struck with great remorse from the devastation of the Kalinga war. Converting to Buddhism,
Ashoka decreed peace among all peoples and spread Buddhism throughout his Empire (which stretched to
present day Iran) and beyond to South East Asia. Furthermore the esoteric and ritualistic Vajrayana
Buddhism is believed to have developed in Odisha. Explore Buddhist Heritage in Odisha in our Culture &
Nature Journey.

Patachitra is traditional painting on cloth carried out by a dynasty of painters depicting

religious scenes from local legends and Hindu epics. Organic vegetables and minerals are crushed, boiled
and filtered to obtain bright natural colours. The cloth is treated before brought to life in the evocative
miniature painting style. Despite faded patronage artists proudly maintain their valuable tradition and
technique. Check out our Bicycle Tour to the hertiage village where it all began.
 Dance has a rich tradition in Odisha stretching back more than 2000 years. Odissi is the
classical dance form of India and was initially performed in temples as a religious offering. The three schools
of classical dance are Mahari, Nartaki and Gotipua. Odissi was suppressed under the British Raj, but has
been reconstructed since independence. Odissi bares the closest resemblance to temple scultpure than any
other dance form in India.

Textiles Odisha has a depth of weaving practices and techniques unparalleled in other
parts of India. Most significant is Ikat; a style of weaving that uses a resist dyeing process. Double Ikat is an
extremely difficult process whereby both the warp and the weft are tie-dyed before weaving. The pattern is
revealed in the weaving process but set during the dying stage. Extremely difficult to master! The complex
skills and time involved in weaving a double ikati sari ensures a unique gift.

Brass and Bell Metal Brass bells and other items of ritual worship are symbols of tradition. A Hindu bride
receives a set of brass cooking utensils in her trousseau. The copper and zinc alloy are of medicial value and
are tied up with notions of purity. Bell metal products; a mix of copper and tin are finished through beating
and casting. Dhokra; the ancient technique of lost-wax casting is still practiced in Odisha.

Festivals are a fantastic way to participate and experience local cultures – and have the
time of your life doing so! Full moons, harvest cycles and religious festivals are all celebrated with gusto. We
do our best to schedule journeys to coincide with fascinating cultural celebrations. If there is a specifc
festival you had in mind do let us know. Odisha's most celebrated festival is the annual Rath Yatra in Puri.
Take a look at our festival of faith journey.

http://www.bharatonline.com/orissa/orissa-monuments.html
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