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Language
Endemic poverty, tribal populations confined to the remote interior districts and extremely poor infrastructure have hampered the development of the Oriyas. The tribal belt is rich in mineral resources but the benefits rarely reach them; illiteracy, unemployment and exploitation by local landlords and merchants are rife. The majority of the rural population ekes out a subsistence living from agriculture. While urban dwellers have access to medical care and education, those in the interior of the states are bereft of any such basic amenities.
Oriya is the main language spoken in this state, though the people also use Munda and Dravidian languages. The language is very similar to Assamese and Bengali.
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Religion
Most of the residents of Orissa are Hindu, though the state has small minorities of Christians and Muslims.
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Food
The food here is hot, hot, and spicy just like the rest of India. Vegetarians can enjoy the traditional delicious 'dalna'-lentils cooked with vegetables like bitter gourd, potatoes, aubergines (brinjals), and spinach. Other traditional gastronomic delights are fried spinach (saga bhaja), chicken cooked in a gravy (kukuda tarkari), aubergines (brinjal) cooked with curd (dahi baigan), prawn curry (chingudi tarkari) and khajuri khata which is sweet and sour tomato chutney with dates. Then there is badi chura that is fermented black gram, crushed, dried and mixed with chopped onions and the crowning glory - seasonal vegetables cooked with fish head called 'chhencheda’.
The favourite sweetmeats of Oriyas are cheese based steamed cake, traditionally cooked in a leaf (chhenna podapitha) and the rasagullas.
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Culture and Crafts
Due to the reigns of many different rulers in the past, the culture, arts and crafts of the state evolved from time to time. The artistic skill of the Oriya artists is unsurpassable in the world. The murals, cloth and palm leaf paintings of Orissa are as old as its magnificent architecture and sculpture. The Chitrakars or artists were patronised by feudal landlords and kings, leaving them free to scale new heights in creativity in all fields of visual arts. The three main categories of Oriya painting, the Bhitichitra or the murals, the Patachitra or the cloth painting and the Pothichitra or the palm leaf engraving have remained more or less the same in style, down the ages. The major motifs are drawn from the rich legends, myths and folklore of the state.
The existing musical tradition of Orissa is the cumulative experience of the last 2500 years. Both these genres owe their existence to the cultural traditions that grew around the temples. Odissi, the traditional classical dance form of Orissa originated in the ‘Devadasi’ cult, wherein young women were ‘married’ to gods and remained in the service of the temple, worshipping their lord and master through this lyrical form of dance. This subtle dance form epitomises Indian femininity at its most sensuous. Other traditional dance forms existing in Orissa are Chhau Dance, Danda Dance, Ghoomra Dance, Animal Mask Dance, Kathi Dance, Kedu Dance, Ranapa Dance, Paika Dance, and various Tribal Dances. There are also a number of theatrical performances like Pala, Daskathia, and others like the circus-like Baunsa Rani that form an intrinsic part of rural/tribal Orissa.
'Applique Work' is a technique by which a decorative effect is obtained by super imposing patches of coloured cloth on a fabric base to create bright and vivid bedcovers, garden umbrellas, wall hangings and hand fans et al. Dhokra or brass & bell metal craft is perhaps the single most important craft in terms of the number of artisans engaged in its practice. Decorative horn craft has been modernised to create contemporary designs in combs, pen stands, cigar pipes, decorative figures, etc. The local lacquer work is yet another form of handicraft for which Orissa is justly famous.
Of all the handicrafts of Orissa the most unique and the finest is silver filigree, locally called tarakasi. Finely crafted jewellery and art pieces made using lacy, delicate filigree are extremely popular. Stone carving and woodcarving are outstanding examples of Orissa’s craftsmanship, perfected through centuries of disciplined efforts of generations of artisans.
Orissa produces a wide variety of fabrics, with weavers from each region producing their own stylised patterns in saris, dress materials, bed covers etc. Some of the important handloom centres are Sambalpur, Berhampur, Cuttack, Nuapatna and Mayurbhanj. The tribals of Orissa too have their own handloom fabrics, not produced in huge quantities, but with a coarse beauty of their own.
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Related Features on Orissa  | We have rounded up a list of some unusual beaches of the world ~ beaches that are red, green, purple ... | | |
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