ODISHA: PLACES TO VISIT

Odisha, formerly Orissa, is situated in the Southeast corner of India, its eastern border along the Bay of Bengal. It shares its borders in the north with West Bengal, in the west with Chattisgarh and in the south with Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The most popular tourist destination in this state is the Lingaraj Temple in Bubhaneswar, the capital city.

ODISHA STATE STATS:

155,820 Sq. Km (60,160 Sq. Mi) Rank: 9th
POPULATION (2011): 41,947,358
CAPITAL CITY: Bhubaneswar  
LITERACY RATE: 73.45%
HDI: 0.362 Rank: 22nd
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Oriya, English  
Official Website: www.odisha.gov.in  

 

map map
ODISHA LOCATOR MAP

 

CULTURAL MAP OF ODISHA
CULTURAL MAP OF ODISHA

EAST: BUBHANESWAR: Capital city

 Lingaraj Temple
Lingaraj Temple

Khandagiri and Udaygiri rock-cut caves
Khandagiri and Udaygiri rock-cut caves
Cactus garden
Cactus garden

 

EAST: BHUBANESWAR, Cont.

map Rajarani Temple
Rajarani Temple

 

Mukteswar Temple
Mukteswar Temple
Nicco  Park
Nicco Park

 

EAST: BUBHANESWAR Cont.

map Pathani Samanta Planetarium
Pathani Samanta Planetarium

 

EAST: KONARK:

 Sun Temple
Sun Temple
Sun Temple, Statue
Sun Temple, Statue

 

EAST CENTRAL: CUTTACK

Konark Sun Temple, inside view
Konark Sun Temple, inside view

Quadam-i-Rasool
Quadam-i-Rasool

map Barabati Fort
Barabati Fort
Stone Revetment
Stone Revetment
 

 

 Ravenshaw University, Cuttack
Ravenshaw University, Cuttack

  Odissi dancer
Odissi dancer

 

FESTIVALS

Rath Yatra:

(July)

The Festival of Chariot, of Shri Jagannath, is celebrated every year at Puri, the temple town in Odisha, on the second day of the waxing cycle of the moon, in Ashadh Masa (July). The presiding deities of the Jagannath Temple, Lord Jagannath, with the celestial wheel- Sudarshana Chakra are removed from the temple in a ceremonial procession to their chariots. The huge, colourfully decorated chariots are drawn by multitudes of devotees on the grand avenue to the Gundicha Temple two miles away to the North. On their way back, the three deities stop for a while near the Mausi Maa Temple (Aunt's abode) and have an offering of the Poda Pitha, which is a special type of pancake supposed to be the Lord's favorite. After a stay for seven days, the deities return to their abodes.

 

Raja Parba:

(Mid-June)

This is a three-day-long festival of womanhood celebrated, in mid-June, the first day called Pahili Raja, the second day is Mithuna Sankranti, and the third day is Bhu daaha or Basi Raja. The final fourth day is called Vasumati snana, in which the ladies bathe with turmeric paste and adorn with flower, sindoor, etc. All types of seasonal fruits are offered to mother Bhumi (Mother Earth). During these three days, women and girls take a rest from work and wear new Saree, Alata, and ornaments. Just as the earth prepares itself to quench its thirst by the incoming rain, the unmarried girls of the family are groomed for impending matrimony through this festival. They pass these three days in joyous festivity and observe customs like eating only uncooked and nourishing food especially Poda Pitha, do not take bath or take salt, do not walk barefoot, and vow to give birth to healthy children in the future. The most vivid and enjoyable memories one has of the Raja gaiety are the rope swings on big banyan trees and the lyrical folk songs that one listens from the nubile beauty enjoying the atmosphere.

According to popular belief, as women menstruate, which is a sign of fertility, so also Mother Earth menstruates. So all three days of the festival are considered to be the menstruating period of Mother Earth. As a mark of respect towards the Earth during her menstruation days, all agricultural work comes to a standstill during these days. The young men of the village keep themselves busy in various types of country games, the most favorite being 'Kabadi'.


 

 

STATE SYMBOLS: (COURTESY WIKIPEDIA)

State animal Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor) sambar deer
State bird Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) blue jay
State flower Asoka (Saraca asoca) asoka
State tree Aswatha (Ficus religiosa) aswatha
State dance Odissi odissi
State Song Bande Utkala Janani  


TOURIST INFORMATION:

CONTACT: website: www.odishatourism.gov.in
Phone: 91-0674-2432177/2431896
Fax: 91-0674-2430887/2431896

 

ODISHA CUISINE

                                                                             SIGNATURE DISHES OF ODISHA

                                                                    map

                                                                                      ODISHA LOCATOR MAP

 

                                     

                                                                              ODISHA THALI

 

                                                       

                                                                                ODISHA THALI 2

 

                                                        

                                                          ODISHA THALI 3

 

ALOO DUM

 

                                                                               

                                                                                                                                         DAHI BAIGANA

 

ARISA PITHA

 

                                                                                      

                                                                                                                          MODAK

 

KAKRA PITHA

 

                                           

                                                                                                                                 PURI

 

                                                        

                                                                                                                                         PAKHALA

 

ODISHA THALI 3