OdishaLifeStyleInfo

Horn craft of Orissa has been around since the time of Sri Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Deb, which was in 1892. He was the Maharaja of Paralakhemundi. Even prior to his reign horn crafts were practiced, but during his reign a lot of carpenters by birth took up horn crafts. It is said that during a fireworks display a hollowed horn was used as a container, where the Maharaja observed a very unique characteristic of horn, he noticed its plasticity. Upon observing this he then asked for a detailed crane of which he had seen a wooden sculpture to be sculpted using horn. He was so pleased with the artifact and also realized the potential of the craft that he set up a workshop and assigned his carpenters to carve using horn. He decided and made a dedicated team of horn craftsmen who would concentrate on the craftsmanship of the product as well as the accurate anatomy of the bird or animal that was to be carved from the horn.

Saura Paintings Art form of Odisha

September 01, 2022

The Sauras are one of India’s oldest tribes, inhabiting the southern part of Odisha. With a history that has been mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the Sauras are known for their distinct tribal culture and their art. A tribe that is deeply connected to nature, their art on the surface seems to be a simplistic depiction of everyday village life. But the art of the Sauras is rich with symbolism and meaning, and it is through these images and their interpretation that the Saura people hold on to their customs and culture. For the Sauras, whose language does not have a script, their art is a record of their history, their philosophy and religious practices. Saura art is traditionally made on the red or brown clay walls of the homes of the villagers, with natural dyes made from rice, white stone, and flower and leaf extracts, using a brush that is made from tender bamboo. The paintings are usually dedicated to the deity of the Sauras, known as Idital and are made during ...

Kapdaganda shawls of Dongria Kondhs

September 01, 2022

Efforts are required to preserve Kapdaganda shawls that embody the rich heritage of Dongria Kondh tribes of Niyamgiri. The weaving of kapdaganda could also provide a livelihood for the disadvantaged community. It seems that the Dongria Kondhs, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) who live in the Niyamgiri Hills of Rayagada and Kalahandi districts in southern parts of Odisha, now have to fight for their ethnic embroidered kapdaganda shawl, which is being replicated by some designers for the past few years. The kapdaganda shawl of Dongria Kondh tribes that symbolize their rich heritage, culture and identity is now being replicated and being sold out online by various apparel sites. Researchers of tribal culture and tradition feel it is high time that the state government should get geographical indication (GI) tag for Kapdaganda, the prestigious shawl of Dongria Kondh tribes. Every evening in the small hamlets spread over Niyamgiri hills, the Dongria women of all ages sit i...

Jhoti Chita – The traditional floor & wall painting of Odisha

September 01, 2022

The folk art of Odisha is bound up with its social and religious activities. In the month of Margasira, women folk worship the goddess Lakshmi. It is the harvest season when grain is thrashed and stored. During this auspicious occasion, the mud walls and floors are decorated with murals in white rice paste or pithau. They are called jhoti or chita and are drawn not merely with the intention of decorating the house, but to establish a relationship between the mystical and the material, thus being highly symbolical and meaningful. Folic painting in this tradition survives till today in all its pristine freshness. Throughout the year, the village women perform several rituals for the fulfillment of their desires. For each occasion a specific motif is drawn on the floor or on the wall. For instance, in Lakshmipuja a stack of paddy or rice sheaves is drawn on the walls structured like a pyramid. During Durga Puja, white dots superimposed with red are painted on the walls. This combinat...

Kala Bhoomi Odisha Crafts Museum

September 01, 2022

The Museum celebrates the craftsmanship of Odia artisans by putting on display their breath-taking masterpieces. Divided into 2 blocks, the museum has a display area and a live section. The display area focuses on galleries about Handicrafts and Handlooms from around the state while the live section is equipped with an open air theatre as well as separate workshop zones. Kala Bhoomi is built using local raw materials such as the laterite stone which can still be seen in some of the oldest monuments around the state. At Kala Bhoomi we have 10 galleries out of which 8 are open to the public. The Handicrafts galleries are on Terracotta, Traditional Paintings, Stone and Wood carving, Natural material crafts and Tribal Crafts. The Handlooms galleries display unique and antique raw materials and equipment as well as variety of Handlooms from across the state. Several handloom and handicraft items are very rare and over a 100-year-old

Odisha’s doyen of sculpture Raghunath Mohapatra

September 01, 2022

In the last seven decades of his journey with stones, Odisha’s legendary sculptor and Rajya Sabha member Raghunath Mohapatra , with his distinct style of carving, decorated the State’s cultural landscape with masterpieces that are difficult to replicate today. A pioneering figure in the world of sculpture and a Padma Vibhusan awardee - second highest civilian honour after the Bharat Ratna - the 78-year-old icon was born into a Biswakarma family in Puri’s Pathuria Sahi. As a young boy who feared going to school, he dropped out in Class III to carry forward his family’s legacy. His initial training in sculpting began at the age of eight under his grandfather Aparti Mohapatra, a sculptor who worked with the royal family of Puri for upkeep of Shri Jagannath Temple. Although he did not have any formal training in sculpture, Mohapatra was an encyclopedia on Shilpa Sastra and began sculpting idols based on religious Hindu iconography from an early age. His passion for stone sculpti...

Bande Utkala Janani The State song of Odisha

September 01, 2022

‘ Bande Utkala Janani’ , the de facto anthem of Odisha, has drawn fresh attention following Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik exhortation to the people of Odisha and Odias across the world to sing the immortal patriotic song at 5.30 pm on Saturday (May 30) to boost the morale of COVID-19 warriors. ‘Bande Utkala Janani’, which means “I bow to thee Mother Utkala”, is an ode to the land of Utkala (ancient name of modern-day Odisha) and its people. The song is unique in its form and content. Time in and time out the song has stirred the souls of proud Odias. ‘Bande Utkala Janani’, penned by Kantakabi Laxmikanta Mohapatra, underlines the spirit of indomitable Odisha. The song portrays its splendid natural beauty, its past glory, God’s bounty to the State, its holy shrines; its arts, crafts and heritage; its history, culture and literature; its rich tradition and its peaceful social living in the most vivid forms. Today it is important to revisit the history of ‘Bande Utkala Janani’ in orde...

Manoj Das A Legend in life time

September 01, 2022

In the passing away of Manoj Das , one of the finest bilingual writers of post-independence India, the nation has lost an original mind and creative voice in the world of literature, literary journalism, public culture and spirituality. Indeed, it would be hard to faithfully chronicle the diverse domains where Das excelled with equal ease and felicity. He acquired a magisterial stature in the course of more than six decades of active creative life. He was a novelist, short story writer, educator, editor, literary journalist, exponent of Indian culture and spirituality, a staunch believer in Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga and the future evolution of the human species. He was, most of all, a narrator and storyteller par excellence who belonged to, and reclaimed, the traditions of Panchatantra, the Jataka tales and Katha Sarita Sagar for contemporary needs. He saw no contradictions in creative self-expression in English and his mother tongue Odia, anchored to the rich repertoire of In...

Chha Mana Atha Guntha By Fakir Mohan Senapati

September 01, 2022

Chha Mana Atha Guntha had to wait for more than sixty years before being translated into English. It seemed like a thunderous start, though. Two English translations of the novel were published in 1967: The Stubble under the Cloven Hoof by C.V.N. Das and Six Acres and a Half by A.M. and B.M. Senapati. A third English translation called A Plot of Land by Nuri Mishra, presenting a simplified and retold version of the novel, was published two years later, in 1969. Truth be told, all these were local affairs, neither published in respectable forums nor well projected. It was troubling to think that the iconic Odia novel’s translational odyssey would end here, in the 1970s, with the end result that the visibility enjoyed, say, by Premchand’s Godaan—the classic translation of this novel by Gordon C. Roadermel was done in 1968—would be denied Chha Mana Atha Guntha.This is a translation that is sensitive to the twists and turns of Chha Mana Atha Guntha, especially its rambunctious ...

Pratibha Ray, The Prolific Odia Woman Writer

September 01, 2022

Pratibha Ray , whose name was announced for Padma Bhushan award on Tuesday evening, is among the most prolific women writers in India whose novels and short stories depict the tension of modern life, corruption and degeneration of values in every sphere while questioning the caste and religious discriminations. The 78-year-old writer, who has earlier won prestigious awards like Jnanpith, Moortidevi and Saptarshi for her literary exploits is among the boldest writers in India whose writings in Odia language bring out her desire for a social order based on equality, love, peace, non-violence and emotional integration. Daughter of a school principal, Ray caught the attention with her first novel Barsha Basanta Baishakha (Rain, spring and summer) in 1974, that was set in a rural ambience.

Popular Odisha Handicraft Villages Pipili

September 01, 2022

Puri has a very wide and distinctive selection of handicrafts. Best known is probably the applique work of Pipili. Pipili is on the way from Puri to Bhubaneswar. It is 40 kilometres from Puri, at the junction where the Konark road branches from the Bhubaneswar to Puri road. It is a small village. On the main road at Pipili there are many shops selling Appliquework products, tourist visiting Puri buy these products from Pipili. It is famous in Orissa as well as in India for it's applique craft. Each and every family of the village engaged themeselves in this applique craft. Applique, a French term, is a technique by which various cutting pieces of coloured fabrics are applied to the surface of another foundation fabric. Applique works of Pipili is also known as patching cloth design and in local language this handicraft is known as ' Chandua '. Samiana(Canopies) and chhatris(umbrellas) that bear magnificent appliques and designs of great artistic skill are manufactured at p...

Terracotta Crafts OR Mrutikka Of Odisha

September 01, 2022

Terracotta is the new form of pottery which literally means baked earth has evolved as a craft from the art of making earthenware pots and utensils and other such items meant for indoor and outdoor decoration and utility products etc . The clay lump is put on the potter wheel then crafted into objects by the artisans. Then sundried and fired in the kiln for hardening. Then individual parts are joined and coloured. Orissa has a claim on many of the world renowned masterpieces made out of terracotta. This work is mostly done by the tribal people. They use special clay and designs in an excellent manner to come out with products such as plates, roof tiles, tea cups, jars and many others. Artists prepare products and highlight them with color but they mostly leave the items with their natural terracotta color. Potters of Orissa still make earthen pots to be used in many ritualistic ceremonies. They are made in various forms and designs. The products range from household ones to the ...

Stone And Wood Carvings Sculpture

September 01, 2022

The cultural history of Odisha has forever showcased the rich heritage of stone and wood carving works. Literally with an endless history, the craft has stayed here even several centuries before the birth of Christ. The excavations of the olden civilizations have perpetually unearthed a flourishing culture that gave highest importance to the art of stone and wood carvings. Despite the progress of civilization, this trade has flourished inviting constant attention of people from all over the world. “ The stone and wood carvings have always treasured the pristine glory of the land. It has continued with an undying trend as generations have treasured their passion for art in the stone and wood carvings. When I step inside a shop for handicraft items or simply visit an ancient temple, I feel proud that I am part of such a grand heritage. The craft has continued so far not only kings and noblemen extended their support but it has the inherent worth in it that is simply timeless”- Says ...

Brass Traditional Dhokra Crafts

September 01, 2022

Dhokra (or Dokra) is non–ferrous metal casting using the ‘lost-wax casting’ technique. This technique of metal casting has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still in use. One of the earliest known ‘lost wax casting’ artefacts is the famous statue of the dancing girl of Mohenjo-daro which we all have seen in our history textbooks. The name ‘Dhokra’ comes from the Dhokra Damar tribes, who are the traditional metal smiths of West Bengal. Their technique of lost wax casting is named after their tribe, hence Dhokra metal casting. The tribe extends from Jharkhand to Orissa to as far ahead to Chattisgarh, Rajasthan and even Kerala ! Hence Dhokra craft is now found all over India. Dhokra Art is still used to craft artefacts, accessories, utensils and jewellery. It is differentiated by its rustic simplicity, enchanting folk motifs and clean, distinctive, lines. The artistry of jewellery making in brass using the craft of Dhokra Art, was practiced in the Indus Valley Civ...

Tarakasi: An Ancient Traditional Identity of Odisha

September 01, 2022

Tarakasi the work of silver, the thick and silver strings we're folded, heated, weaved and molded into a piece of single exotic jewelry. Bhubaneswar is called the 'city of the temple' because of countless temples in it. The former capital of Odisha "Kataka" which is recognized as Cuttak and it is famous globally as 'the silver city' because of its oldest Filigree manufacturing industry called 'Tarakasi' in Odia. Cuttack, the 'Silver City of India', is famous for its centuries old Chandi Tarakasi, the craft of silver filigree. The craft is believed to have been introduced in Odisha when the Mughals established their rule in India. The process is highly elaborate, using precision, patience and skilled handwork, apart from the ingenuity and creativity of the artisans.

Anil Gochhikar Popular Bodybuilder From Odisha

September 01, 2022

Anil Gochhikar , the popular bodybuilder from Odisha whose photo during Rathayatra had gone viral some years back has been sitting in a ‘Dharna’ against the Odisha government since January first week. Gocchikar claims that his family had dwellings and land close to the Puri Jagannath temple that were demolished by the Odisha government “illegally’. Anil Gochhikar, who is a successful and popular bodybuilder and has won many international accolades in bodybuilding, belongs to a family of Sevayats of the Sri Jagannath Temple in Puri. Gochhikar says that their family had buildings very close to the Shri Jagannath Temple which were demolished by the government despite an ongoing legal process. He says that the family has been offered a compensation amount and an offer for an alternate site in exchange for the plot. But Gochhikar believes the compensation money is not enough and the alternate plot offered by the Odisha government is “too far away” from the Jagannath Temple. Gochhikar ...

Himalayan Pink Salt

September 01, 2022

Despite the " Himalayan " in its name, Himalayan pink salt is found primarily in Pakistan. It's a form of salt that is sought after for its lovely pink hue and marketed as a healthier substitute for table salt.In truth, while Himalayan pink salt may have slightly higher amounts of certain important nutrients, such as magnesium, it doesn't contain enough to make an impact. Nutritionally, this pretty salt is extremely similar to regular salt. While many people tout Himalayan sea salt's health benefits, including lower sodium levels and a greater variety of important minerals and elements compared with conventional table salt, there's little evidence that these health claims have any merit.Himalayan pink salt does contain extra minerals and elements that regular table salt does not. For example, Himalayan pink salt contains trace amounts of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all minerals that your body needs to stay healthy. However, the overall amounts are very...

Chausathi Jogini Temple -Odisha Tourism

September 01, 2022

Chausath Yogini Temples are very unique temples. Right from unusual circular shapes with Yoginis carved all around the circle to missing ceiling in these temples, they intrigue any student of temple architecture. For me, it was a long wait to visit this first Chausath Yogini temple of the 5 such temples known. 2 of them are in Odisha and 3 in MP. However, I did discover another one – dilapidated but practicing temple at Jirapur near Mandu. So, that makes the total count of such temples toAs luck would have it, I visited the two temples at a gap of 20 days and what a contrast both temples are. One is located next to a huge water tank and another in the middle of rice-fields on the outskirts of Bhubaneshwar in Odisha. I walked to the temple around dusk, as the sun was setting. I knew the temple was small but it was smaller than my expectations.

Nalbana Bird Sanctuary Wildlife in Odhisha

September 01, 2022

Nalabana Bird Sanctuary is a protected wildlife refuge located in the state of Orissa. Spanning an area of 1555 hectares of dense green forests, Nalabana Bird sanctuary is covered with water reeds. The Sanctuary is essentially one of the small islands inside Chilika Lake, which is connected to the Bay of Bengal towards its east. Chilika Lake is India’s largest brackish water wetland. The Lake also gets heavy inflow of water from rivers Bhargavi and Daya. This mixing of fresh water and sea water helps the lake support large ecosystem of aquatic animals and birds. There are several bird species in Nalabana Bird Sanctuary that are resident species and many that are migratory birds. Some of the rarest migratory species found in the sanctuary are the Asiatic Dowitchers and Spoon-billed Sandpiper. The Island of Nalabana was declared a bird sanctuary in the year 1987 after observing the sheer number of diverse bird species found there. Chilika Lake experiences tidal fluctuations due to...

Gopalpur Beach Tourists Attractions Place

September 01, 2022

Gopalpur is a town with colourful houses and people who love eating fish a little more than others. It was once a commercial port but now it is a famous sea beach and a dream destination for people who are born to travel. Touching the border of Andhra Pradesh and situated on the Bay of Bengal coast, Gopalpuris 16 km away from the commercial hub of southern Odisha, Brahmapur/Berhampur. The beach where the time stands still and where everyone just wants to take a moment and breathe, offers a perfect getaway in Odisha. Gopalpur was the haunt of elites during British Raj and also has its relation to Kalinga Dynasty. Touted as one of the cleanest and the bluest beaches of Odisha, the pristine land is a great option for anyone who�s looking to unwind. Amidst Palms, Coconut and Casuarina trees, the sandy beach is filled with stalls selling different artifacts made from shells as souvenirs and food shacks where you can sit and admire the beauty of the sea.

Revisiting the Temple Up the Hill

September 01, 2022

The Kalikamata Temple on top of Pavagadh Hill an important shrine for the Hindus. At first glance, it looks no different from popular Hindu pilgrimage centres of north India. But accompanied by a local historian, you will be able to see ruins of former palaces and temples. Pilgrims either walk up the hill or take the cable car. The Jain temples mostly belong to the Digmabar sect and are scattered in groups in Pavagadh and Champaner. The twin towns are located about five km apart. It is said that Champaner was founded in the eighth century by King Vanraj Chavda. According to historians, along with neighbouring Pavagadh, it formed an important buffer between Gujarat and Mandu in Malwa (now Madhya Pradesh). The Chauhan Rajputs, who conquered the area around 1300 AD, ruled here for nearly two centuries. Although several Gujarat Sultans tried to capture Pavagadh, it was finally Mahmud Begda who managed to capture it, made it his capital and patronised a spate of constructions.

Hirakud Dam The Longest Earthen Dam

September 01, 2022

Hirakud is the longest earthen Dam in the world and stands across the mighty river, Mahanadi, in the Sambalpur region of Odisha. It was the first major multipurpose river valley project after India’s Independence in 1947. This human-made structure is located 15 km north of Sambalpur – its majesty only rivaled by the sparkling waters of the river it stands on. With an area of 1,33,090 sq km, the Dam is more than twice the area of Sri Lanka. The main Hirakud Dam has an overall length of 4.8 km (3.0 mi), stretching across the Laxmidungri hills on the left and the Chandili Dunguri hills on the right. The vast expanse of the Dam and its surrounding waters is a sight for sore eyes. Scores of tourists visit the area to take in the views and the engineering marvel that is the Hirakud Dam. The bulk of the Dam contains earth and concrete enough to construct a road 8 meters wide – from Kanyakumari in the south to Kashmir in the north, and further across from Amritsar to Assam! For the most ...

Clean Up Drive At Puri Beach

September 01, 2022

More than 10,000 volunteers participated in the world’s biggest beach clean-up drive , named as ‘Mo Beach’, along Puri coast in Odisha on the occasion of International Coastal Cleanup Day today.The mega beach cleaning exercise, organised by the Puri district administration, began at 6 AM today.The places targeted for the drive include 10 spots under Puri Municipality, 10 under Konark NAC and 80 locations in Astaranga, Brahmagiri, Gop and Krushnaprasad in the district. “The coastal clean-up exercise would send a message to the whole world to save the mother earth from pollution, said Puri district Collector Balwant Singh.Ambassador of ‘Mo Beach’ initiative and renowned sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik, Bollywood actor Vidyut Jammwal were the star attraction of the clean-up drive here.Elected representatives, SHG members, fishermen community, beachside vendors, hoteliers, photographers, tourist guides, Sebayat community of Shri Jagannath Temple, government officials, religious organizat...

Gorekhanath Temple Hindu Temple Dedicated Lord Shiva

September 01, 2022

Gorakhnath Temple is also know as Gorakhnath Math, a hindu temple dedicated Lord Shiva. Gorakhnath Temple is located in the Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh ,India. The famous festival of the temple is Maha Sakranti. The name Gorakhnath was devined from the maha saint “Gorakhnath”, a yogi who travelled across the india. The famous Nath tradition in the temple was found by guru Matsyendranath. Basically this math is located in the centre of Gorakhnath. The Gorakhnath Temple region comprises the many districts across the area the temple relies such as Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Basti, Deoria, Azamgarh, and many areas of Napal. These areas are also known as the Gorakhpur janapad in their culture, which as the specific name in hindu as Vedic culture. Gorakhpur Temple was a part of the Kosala Kingdom. This temple is one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas over the country in the 6th century BC. The solar dynasty of the Kshatriyas, who were ruling the entire dynasty inc...

Dhauligiri Hills Odisha Tourism

September 01, 2022

Located about 8 km from Bhubaneswar, Dhauli Giri Hills is best known as the site of the Peace Pagoda or Dhauli Shanti Stupa. The dome-shaped Shanti Stupa has stone panels displaying Lord Buddha's footprints and the Bodhi tree. The dome has five umbrellas, symbolising the five essential parts of Buddhism. After dark, there is a grand sound-and-light show organised here with state-of-the-art projectors beaming laser rays on the stupa, narrating its grand history in 3D. From the time of the Kalinga empire to the feuds of the Mauryan empire, and the crowning of king Ashoka, the show covers it all in around 35 minutes. It ends with Ashoka adopting Buddhism, post the Kalinga War. In close proximity to the stupa are rock-cut caves and temples, including the temple of Dhavaleswara.

Kantilo Nilamadhab Temple Nayagarh Most visited tourist Place

September 01, 2022

Kantilo Nilamadhaba temple is one of the major temple of Odisha. This place is one of the most visited tourist destination of odisha.Shri Nilamadhava Temple is very old and famous Vishnu temple which is near to the bank of Mahanadi in Nayagarh district of Khandapada Block. This place is famous for lord Nilamadhaba. According to Purana's many years ago Lord Vishnu was worshiped as Nilamadhab by sabar king Biswabasu . After that Lord Nilamadhab was appears as Daru murty in Puri Shreemandir so this place is the origin of Load Jagannath. The design of this temple is very similar to Puri Jagannath temple and the rituals of load Nilamadhab is almost same as in Puri Shreemandir. In addition to main temple you will see lot of parswa temple.

Shree Champa Nath Mahadev Temple

September 01, 2022

Champanath is Worshipping place for lord Shiva. You will see small temple & a large main temple of linga with snakes around in it. Children's will probably enjoy more because it has a pond with full of big tortoise & Fishes. You can feed them as u wish, funny fact is that the tortoise eats LAYS (potato chips). U can go to this place as u comfortable with. Prabhu Shri Champanath is an avatar of Lord Shiva. A really beautiful holy place. You will get a very good darshan here anytime. The mandir is very beautiful and well maintained. The most special thing about this place is the pond where fish and TORTOISE are there inside that. You can feed those tortoise and have fun with them. They are considered to be very holy and pure form and people believe they come to those who call them with a good and clear mind and heart. That’s all. Enjoy this amazing place with your loved ones. ️,