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Along the eastern coast, on the Bay of Bengal lies the state of Orissa. Earlier known as Kalinga, the city recorded in the annals of history for its resistance to the Mauryan King Asoka(in 3rd century BC).
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Tribals
Each of the 62 tribal groups practise their individual traditions in their villages in the districts of mayurbhanj, Koraput, Ganjam, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, malkangiri, Nawarangpur, Sundarnagar and Kandhamal.
Odissi Dance and Music
Orissa's classical dance form the Oddissi was performed in the hallowed precincts of Lord Jagannath's temple in Puri as an expression of the dancer's total obeisance to the Lord.
Folk and Tribals
Folk and Tribal music and dance - The Chhow, the Dandanata and the Chaiti Ghonda are an integral feature of Orissan culture. Musical instruments can vary from drums to reed like pipes.
Paintings
The Juangs tribals draw filigree paintings of men and women, flowers and fruits in white rice powder, while others use the rich contrasting clays of earth. The traditional art of Patachitra was practised by the Mahapatra or the Maharana caste. The designs were traditional, treated cloth and laved with lacquer. The Patachitra artists have revived a lost art and tourists can see this fascinating art form being recreated at the Raghurajpur artist's village near Puri.
The Chitrakaras repint the Jagannath temple deities and the chariots every year. Ganjapa, circular playing cards, created by the Chitrakaras are a collector's item. Vividly coloured, they depict a fine sense of traditional aesthetics.
Appliques
Applique canopies encouraged by temple rituals traditionally held aloft the venerated deities.
Textiles
One of the most distinctive feature of Orissa's textile industry is the ikat (tie and dye) design. Its dynamic variations in cotton and silk fabrics give it a versatility that adds richness and colour to India's cornucopia of vivid textiles.
Stone Carvings
Stones are transformed into living expressions like the ones found on the walls of the Lingaraja temple, Jaganath and the Konark temples.
The wonder of Orissa is the subliminal integration of her exotic past with her contemporary strenghts. Still a relatively rural culture, orissa's urbanisation has not broken its linkages with the richness and complexity of its traditional heritage.
