ORISSA
Capital : Bhubaneshwar
Attraction : Golden Triangles ( Bhubaneshwar, Puri, Konark )
Language Spoken : Oriya
Perpetually washed by the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, Orissa lies on the
east coast of India with a 482-km-long coastal stretch. It is bounded by West
Bengal and Bihar on the north, Andhra Pradesh on the south, the Bay of Bengal
on the east and Madhya Pradesh on the west . The state's history is divisible
into the same four periods in which Indian history is usually analysed, i.e.,
the Hindu period, the Muslim period, the British period and the
post-Independence period.
Orissa's main attractions are the temples of the capital Bhubaneswar, - the
long sandy beach at Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark and Simlipal and Nandankanan
sanctuaries of Cuttack. The renowned Jagannatha temple dominate the landscape
at Puri as does the Lingaraja temple of Bhubaneswar. 10 kms west of
Bhubaneshwar are the Udayagiri Caves, which were occupied by the Buddhist monks
as early as the 2nd century BC.
History: It's hazy past is linked to the fortunes of Kalinga of which it was
once a part. Ashoka's carnage of Kalinga made the emperor foreswore war and
till 2nd century AD, Buddhism and Jainism alternately held sway in Orissa. Fast
forward to 1514: the time of the European arrival here. After the British
conquest in 1804, Orissa was divided into three districts: Cuttack, Puri and
Balasore. After independence, Orissa became a state of India in 1950.
Capital: Bhubaneswar, the capital of Orissa, famous as a temple town and a
handicraft centre, has, over the last decade, become an upcoming business
centre. While the city itself boats of no giant industrial plants, showcased in
its main bazaars are craftwork, such as the traditional tie and dye technique
of ikat, that date back over several thousand years.
Handicrafts: Shopping in Orissa is a joy. You don't look there for what the
modern industry can give you, but for unique and exquisite handicrafts, made by
those fingers whose forerunners had with such dexterity and skill created the
magnificient Orissa temples. The handicrafts of Orissa include silver filigree,
horn work, folk paintings (Pattachitra), metalware, applique work, stoneware,
silk and cotton handloom etc.
Culture: Another expression of Oriyan culture is Odissi, one of the finest
forms of Indian classical dance. Evolved out of spiritual consciousness, it
formed an essential part of the ritualistic services in the important shrines
of Orissa. Devotional in spirit, it is marked for its elaborate grace and
lyrical charm, revealed through rounded movements. Orissa also has a rich body
of literature with Sitakant Mahapatra being one of the major voices in
contemporary Oriya poetry
Festivals: Makar Sankranti in January; Magha Mela and Konark Dance Festival in
Febraury; Maha Shivratri and Holi in March; Basant Panchami in Febraury /
March; Chaitra Parba or Chhow Festival in April; Rath Yatra or the Car Festival
of Puri and Raja Sankranti in June / July; Durga Puja in September / October;
Kartika and Kumar Purnima in October-November; Lakshmi Puja in December
-January.
CLIMATE: Temperature (deg C): Summer - Max.38, Min.27.1
Winter - Max.28.2, Min.15.2.
Rainfall : Mid June-September 60 inches (152 cms).
Best season : October to March