Beaches of Odisha

 Lying on the eastern peninsular region of India, Orissa is a state that shares about 450 km of the Indian coastline. Sharing its coastal front with the Bay of Bengal, Orissa is home to some of the most brilliant beaches on the east coast of the country. The silver sand, the crystalline blue skies and the calm waters make the beaches here laid back and relaxing. Here is the list of some beautiful beaches for enjoy.

Puri Golden Beaches :

One of the most popular and hence the most crowded of all the beach resorts in Odisha is Puri. It is also the seat of Lord Jagannath, the guardian deity of the state.The grand Marine Drive road running parallel to the beach is a popular spot for long walks. The fine sands of Puri beach and the roar of the waters from the Bay of Bengal fascinate visitors throughout the year. The local fishermen with their wide-brimmed cane hats, along with excellent hotels and guesthouses, make Puri beach an ideal holiday spot with plenty of things to do here. The beach's choppy waters are also an ideal choice for surfing enthusiasts.

 Chandrabhaga Beach :

Chandrabhaga is one of the cleanest beaches in Odisha and it is the first Indian beach that was awarded Blue Flag certification. The clean blue water and the shimmering sand are perfect for a relaxing day. A plethora of festivals and fairs are organized at this beach and it attracts a lot of pilgrims every year. To get acquainted with the mythological story behind this beach, you must visit it at the time of a festival and interact with the locals. If you like uncrowded beaches then you should not plan your visit while festivals and fairs are taking place on this riveting beach. Get ready to soak in the gorgeous view of the sunset while the cool breeze touches your face.

Gopalpur beach :

Gopalpur Beach, Odisha is a great beach for one to collect shells and first-sized peal-white conch. One can also surf and sail in the waters at this beach.There is also an old lighthouse which is open to visitors in the afternoon. One can experience breathtaking views from the top of the lighthouse. Gopalpur Beach Festival takes place every year in the month of December. There are various aqua sports organized at the beach.

Lakes and Waterfalls

 Chilika Lake :

Chilika, the largest costal lagoon and favorite destination of millions of migratory birds. Every year Chilika Lake hosts more than 160 species of birds during the peak migratory season, birds from various places like Lake Baikal, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea and some other remote parts of different countries like Russia, Kirghiz steppes of Mongolia, Central and Southeast Asia and Ladakh come here for spending winter season. Also from our country from Himalayas many types of birds come to Chilika.Dolphins and migratory birds are the prime attraction in Chilika for foreign tourist. Wildlife lovers around the globe like to visit Chilika and stay here to experience the finest eco-system of this place and the varieties of wild life those are leaving here. Chilika is nearer to Puri, so the tourist those Visited Puri they also like to Visit Chilika Lake.

The scenic beauty of Chilika Lake attracts tourist toward this wonderful tourist site, here at Rambha Bay that is situated at southern end of the lake, many beautiful islands are present The Becon Island, The Breakfast Island, Honeymoon Island, Birds island etc. Parikud and Kalijai Island are most visited islands in Chilika. Kalijai Island is famous because of Maa Kalijai Temple every day many devotees coming to Chilika with the purpose to worship Maa Kalijai and along with that experience the extraordinary beauty of Chilika Lake.

Bada ghagara Waterfall :

Bada Ghagara is a famous waterfall situated at Kendujhar. Dropping from a height of 60 m, Badaghagara is a special part of the Ghaghara River which itself is a tributary of River Baitarani. Badaghagra reservoir which was raised on Machakandana river during the Kingdom era is the major source of water supplies to the Keonjhar town. The spot is rich in exotic Flora & Fauna and rare place for study of tribal life.

Khandadhar Waterfall :

Khandadhar Waterfall is situated at Nandapani, Bonaigarh in the Sundergarh District of the Indian state. It is one of the highest waterfalls in India. The Khandadhar Waterfall lies at a distance of 15km from NH-215 near Lahunipara. It is an enchanting sword-shaped waterfall that drops on the ground from a height of 244 m. The waterfall resembles a sharp sword, hence it has been named Khandadhar. Khanda means sword, and Dhara means the flow of water.

FORESTS AND NATURE

 BHITARKANIKA NATIONAL PARK :

Opaque mangroves, meandering water channels, gorgeous wildlife and surreal setting, Notified as a wildlife sanctuary in 1975 and further a national park in 1998, Bhitarkanika National Park is placed in the district of Kendrapara in the state of Odisha.Sprawls over 672 sq km of area, Bhitarkanika is a completed package of nature and wildlife. Bhitarkanika is one of the few national parks in India that give a chance to explore a wildlife through a boat top rides, just like those in Sundarbans. To enter the park, one has to take an entry permit from the entry points. The park has two entry points - Khola and Gupti. Being one of the most-visited wildlife sanctuaries in the state boasts a diverse flora which is flourishing with thick Mangrove forests and impressive fauna which include numerous wild creatures.

Throughout the year a number of tourists mainly come here to catch a sight of saltwater crocodile which the park has in abundance and are also the star attractions of this place. Apart from the crocodiles, the park is also a prime habitat centre of several other species of animals including Indian python, black ibis, rhesus monkey, cobra, chital darter, monitor lizard, wild boar and olive ridley turtles, fishing cat, spotted deer, hyena, dolphin, porcupine, sambar, terrapin.

SIMILIPAL :

Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district is endowed with high peaks like Khairiburu,Maghasini and rocky cliffs like Ganapati facing the frost-valleys in Devasthali.The name ‘Simiipal’ is believed to be derived from the abundance of Semul or Red Silk cotton trees which bloom vividly every year.

It harbours Tiger,Leopard,Sloth bear,Elephant,Gaur and other important major faunal species.Similipal is the only home for the unique melanistic tiger in the world.There are 55 species of mammals,361 species of birds,62 species of reptiles,21 species of amphibians,with many species of invertebrate are present in the landscape.

Temples and Monuments

 Odisha ,is popular for its ancient and esoteric temples also for  historic monuments in the world. The structural beauty, devine atmospere attract the tourist to come here to take blessing.Bhubaneswar ,the capital city of Odisha is also khown as the temple city of India. People from all over the world visit Odisha to explore the architecture and sculptures on the walls of the temple. The striking architecture and artistic work on the walls of these temples is worth a glimpse. You can view the history, culture, religious and artistic works on the walls of these temples. These are the temples you can explore to get a glimpse of the fine architecture, history, and listen to fascinating tales from mythology.

Shree Jagannath temple, puri :

Shri Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu lord of the Universe is the supreme solace and saviour of countless devotees around the world. since time immemorial, His monumental and magnificent Shrine at Shri Purusottam-Kshetra (Puri, Orissa) one of the four major Dhamas of India has been a most sacred centre of pilgrimage and worship symbolising and uploading one of the greatest spiritual and cultural heritages of the world.

Konark sun temple :

The Sun Temple in Konarak, Orissa is a 13th century Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu Sun God. The spectacular structure got listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984. Constructed in a shape of a giant chariot, the temple is known for the exquisite stone carvings. The structure is the recreation of the indispensable role of Sun in everyone’s lives. The rare construction and artwork belongs to the Kalinga School of Temple Architecture. Ravaged by time, the temple complex now lies in ruins but its magnificence still shines through.

The Sun Temple at Konarak was built in about 1250 AD by King Narasimhadeva of Eastern Ganga. According to local legend, the temple had great power. Two very powerful magnets existed here built into the tower that allowed the king's throne to hover in mid-air. European seafarers sailing off the coast named it the Black Pagoda. The magnets of the temple affected the tidal pattern and have said to have caused frequent shipwrecks along the coast.

Music and dance

 Odisha is one of the Music & Dance Center of South Asia. It has a rich heritage of music and dance which is a delight for all culture & art lovers throughout the world. Odissi music was organized into a classical style in the 11th century. It was also noted as ancient Odramagadhi music which is not a part of Indian music.Odisha folk songs are very unique with their lyrics. The folk songs are sung on different festivals and occasions. They do it for their enjoyment. Some folk music of Odisha are Balipuja Geeta, Kela Keluni Geeta, Dalkhai Geeta, Kendra Geeta, Jaiphula Geeta, Ghumura Geeta, Ghoda Nacha, and Danda Nacha Geeta. 

If you are a true culture lover you can not miss experiencing Odisha’s dance forms. The reflection of society and their lifestyle describes inside their dance forms. In the old days, there was a ritual to dance in front of God which was an important element those days. There are so many dance forms in Odisha are Odissi, Chhau, Gotipua, Danda Nata, Sambapuri, Dalkhai, Chaitighoda, and Medha Nacha. 

Odissi :

Odissi is one of the oldest dance forms of Odisha, it has a tradition of 2000 years. It was originated in the Hindu temples of the coastal state of Odisha. It has a distinctive quality of rhythm, bhangis, and mudras. It is a “sculpturesque” style of dance, which is a unique style to itself.The interesting part of Odissi is that the body position, the postures conveys a particular message by itself. There are several items in Odissi dance form those are Mangalacharana, Batunrya, Pallavi, Moksha, and Abhinaya.

Chhau dance :

It was originated from the mock fight of Paika warriors, they fought on rhythms to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

Nowadays Chhau dancers follow the principle of Nrutya Shastra. The dancers worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. 

Chhau is a form of tribal martial dance. Whose origin is in Mayurbhanj princely state of Odisha and which seen in the Indian states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Basically there are three subtypes of dance, these are mentioned in the original places where the subtype dance form is developed. 

Dalkhai dance :

Dalkhai is one of the most famous folk dances of Western Orissa. In the Odia language, the term Dalkhai signifies woman love. The men yell Dalkhai bo! in the refrain of the song and from this phrase comes the name Dalkhai folk dance.

The Dalkhai is performed in events like Bhaijuntia, Phagun Puni, Nuakhai, Dussehra, Dalkhai and Durga Puja.

The unmarried young ladies known as kuanris, start the exhibition with a society tune, which is followed with a Dalkhai performance.

Daskathia dance :

Daskathia, one of the folk dances of Odisha, is a form of dance-cum natya. This dance narrates ancient puranic tales and legends of Lord Shiva and his incarnations as Rudra, Hara, Mahadeva, Shankar, Bholanath, and so forth.

The exhibition of Daskathia is considered formal in nature. The performance has less music and more poetry. Its emotional piece comprises verses taken from different Puranic references which are used to narrate stories to the audience.

The artists dress up in shiny and gaudy dresses portraying the character they intend to play. Those artists who sing along in the background and play instruments, wear a white vest and with a red dhoti during performance.

Arts and crafts

   Odisha is a powerhouse of talent and takes great pride in its vibrant arts and crafts. Its streets, bylanes and villages throb with the constant tinkle and toil of artisans. From sculptures in its beautiful temples that are proof of its ancient mastery to wide ranging classical forms and folk or tribal techniques – Odisha has it all.

The state’s heritage crafts include paintings, textiles, embroidery and tribal jewellery, with artefacts made from diverse materials such as stone, wood, metal, coir, clay, animal horns, feathers, sisal fibre, sabai grass, lacquer and more.

Each region in Odisha has something unique to offer to the intrepid traveller. Not only do these crafts provide sustainable livelihood to marginalised craftsmen, they also keep these glorious traditions alive and provide the avid shopper with an opportunity of a lifetime!

Applique Work – Pipli chandua :

Pipli, a small village located near Puri, is where the applique serves to be a common thing found in every household, street and shop. One can witness the making process or check out the final creations crafted in the shape of umbrella or canopies in the village itself. To make it more eye catching, artisans stitch tiny mirrors on the applique designs!

Silver Filigree :

Of all the handicrafts of Odisha the most unique and the finest, in fact the queen among them, is silver filigree, locally called tarakasi. The craft is localised at Cuttack town and a few villages in Cuttack district. The process consists of drawing silver through a series of consecutively smaller holes to produce fine strands of wire.

These wires are then made into various shapes by deft hands of the craftsmen by bending them into different designs and soldering them with pincer and scissors.Silver used by the artisans is usually of high purity often exceeding ninety per cent.

Sand art-Puri :

In Orissa ,a unique type of art form is developed at Puri . But it spreads all over the world . To carve a sand sculpture , the raw material is the only clean and fine grained sand mixed with water . With the help of this type of sand and with the blessings of God and by the magic of fingures , an artist can carve a beautiful and attractive sculpture on the beach. Among few people who leave their footprints on sand, one maestro of creating gorgeous and innovative sand sculptures is Mr. Sudarshan Pattnaik. One can take a look at his extravaganza creations near the Puri sea beach!He has magic fingers, with unlimited potentials and with immense heat to create some thing new on sand. He had always a dream that he would win a prize in an international level.

Jhoti, Chita, Muruja :

Jhoti chita is a traditional Odia white art mostly shown in rural areas of Odisha. It is made from rice paste and a piece of cloth surrounded by a stick is used to create beautiful patterns. People also use their bare fingers to make jhoti chita. They can be created over walls and on floors. Murja is the dry rice powder or white stone powder that has been utilized on the floor to draw beautiful pictures.

festival of odisha

Odisha, the land of diverse cultural heritage, celebrates numerous religious festivals round the year, which are typical to the particular region.There is a saying that, BAARA MASARE TERA PARABA ( 13 festivals in 12 months). The festivities are usually vibrant, marked by colourful processions, huge gatherings, and the entire region revels in a festive atmosphere. We list down a few popular festivals of Odisha.

Here is the list of most famous festivals of Orissa that this coastal state is famous for:

Rath Yatra :

Also known as Car Festival is dedicated to Lord Jagannath who is believed to be an avatar of Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. The Rath or Chariot Yatra on this festival represents the journey of Lord Krishna from Gokul to Mathura. The huge deities of Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra are taken for a religious yatra on the chariots to the summer temple for a week. The main chariot is 14 meters high and 10 meters square with 16 wheels, construction of which is began two months prior to the festival. People of Orissa actively participate in the Rath Yatra. The people have always been connected to this traditional festival of Orrisa, so much that in the olden times, the devotees used to jump to death in front of the Rath under the belief that dying under the Jagannath’s chariot will send them to heaven.

Time of Celebration- June or July

Raja festival :

The Raja Parba of Odisha is one of most popular festivals of the state. This is a three-day-long festival dedicated to Mother Earth (Bhuma Devi) and womanhood at large. The festivities begin a day before Mithuna Sankranti and conclude two days after that.
The first day of the festival is called Pahili Raja, the second is Mithuna Sankranti and the third Bhu daha or Basi Raja. The preparation begins one day before Pahili Raja, and it is called Sajabaja. Primarily, it is a time for the unmarried girls to prepare for their matrimony. They follow various customs related to the festival by consuming nutritious food like Podapitha, not walking barefoot, taking a bath on the first day, and merrily swinging on ropes attached to a tree.

Nuakhai :

Nuakhai, as the name, suggests that Nua means New and Khai means Food. So, the festival of Nuakhai is a festival to celebrate newly harvested food by the farmers. One day after the celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi it is celebrated especially in the Western part of Odisha with much pomp and jubilation. People staying in distant lands come back to their native places, wear new clothes and offer prayers before God and eat delicious foods prepared from the newly harvested crops.

bali jatra :

In the Hindu month of Kartik(October - November), the city of Cuttack in Odisha celebrates a renowned festival known as Bali Jatra. The name Bali Jatra means ‘A Voyage to Bali’. This popular festival of Odisha marks its beginning from the day of the full moon and continues for the next seven days at Gadagadia Ghat of the River Mahanadi where they worship the Lord Kartikeswar - the presiding deity of this festival. Moreover, through this festival, the locals also commemorate that day when sailors of Odisha first crusade to distant lands of Java, Bali, Borneo, Sri Lanka and Sumatra. To pay their homage, regional people make the artificial boat(made up of paper, barks of the banana tree and cork) and float it in the water. Besides, the festival also observes the tradition of lighting lamps in the boat which is called Boita Bandana. This boasts an amazing landscape of countless boats lit with lamps.

Savitri brata :

Savitri Amavasya or Savitri Brata is an important vow that married women in Odisha practice by observing fast for their husband and wishing for their long life. Observed on the Amavasya(last day of the dark fortnight) in the month of Jyestha, the day is considered very auspicious and the fast is observed by every married woman in Odisha.

Married women in Odisha fast during the day and listen to the story of Savitri and Satyabana. The fasting is dedicated to Savitri and Satyabana her husband who was destined to die within one year but was brought back to life by her severe penance.

cultural heritage and tradition

 cultural heritage :

Odisha boast of its rich cultural heritage with its historical monuments, archaeological sites, traditional arts, sculpture, music, and dance.It is filled with exquisite temples and extraordinary monuments and is home to many thousands of prolific artists and craftsmen and possessing beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and natural landscape of often-enchanting beauty.The capital of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, the ‘city of temples‘,  ‘Lord of Three Worlds‘, was the ancient capital of Kalinga.The Orissan culture and architecture flourished immensely under the rein of Keshari and Ganga Kings at Odisha (Orissa). A number of masterpieces of that golden era still stand today as mute evidence to a glorious past.

cultural history :

There are lots of mention about the people of odisha in historical epics like Ramayan, Mahabharata, Manu samhita and various indian puranas of ancient India.The history of Orissan art and architecture is corelated with her early history which starts from 261 B.C., when Ashok conqured Orissa, then known as Kalinga. The earliest specimen of Orissan art is the colossal figure of the foreport of an elephant carved on the top of the boulder containing Ashoka’s edicts at Dhauli about five miles from Bhubaneswar. There was also an Ashokan pillar now enshrined inside Bhaskareswar temple in Bhubaneswar which has been converted into a Shivalingam later on. These Ashokan monuments thus marked the beginning of Orissan art and architecture.

The next stage of the development of Orissan art and architecture is marked by the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri which stand side by side about five miles to the west of Bhubaneswar. These hillocks have been honey-combed with rock-cut caves meant for Jaina ascetics. The graphic account of emperor Kharavela’s reign and campaigns of 1st century B.C. are found in the Hatigumpha inscription of the Udayagiri hill. The grand and excellent art and architecture of these caves bear base-reliefs which depict the Jaina pantheons and objects of devotion, panoramic views of the worship of the sacred tree or symbols.

People Of Odisha

With 95% of the populace following Hinduism and over 62 tribal communities residing on the identical soil, people of Odisha sleep in harmony with mutual respect for minorities. The cultural diversity of Odisha is admirable. it’s said that the state stands as a coastal corridor between the northern and southern parts of the country. Odisha is additionally a state with one in all rock bottom crime rates.

tradition :

The old customs and traditions bind the Odias together in a cultural cocoon where each and every festival is celebrated with equal enthusiasm and gaiety. It is like a bridge between the northern and southern halves of the country. Odia (formerly known as Oriya) is the most spoken language of Odisha.Odisha has a unique culture and Odias call it Jagannath Sanskruti as most of them revolve around Lord Jagannath.

Odisha Wedding tradition :

Odisha’s wedding ceremony is a simple affair free from any complexities and lavishness and is considered as a blissful affair with simple rituals followed. It performed by Odia Hindu people in the Indian state of Odisha. There are different rituals according to different castes. One unique thing about Odia’s wedding is that the bridegroom’s mother does not take part in the ceremony. 

The marriage has three major rituals Nirbandha(fixing the marriage(engagement)), Bahaghara (the main wedding ritual), and Chaturthi (consummation). A wedding in Odisha is not considered complete until Chaturthi. Odia’s wedding continues to 8 days calls (Astamangala). One of the unique things about the Oriya wedding is that the mother of the bridegroom does not attend the wedding ceremony.