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INFORMATION
ABOUT ORISSA
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 Population: 35 million |
