A Beginner’s Guide to Enjoy Odisha Tourism

While Odisha is one of the poorest states in India, it also boasts a distinctive and rich diversity culturally. This is what the uniqueness in Odisha culture is all about. The state’s coastal plains have the highest concentration of historical and religious monuments, thus, making it one of the popular tourist attractions. One of the famous spots of Odisha Tourism Puri is the site of the Lord Jagannath temple, which hosts one of the world’s most spectacular devotional processions, the Rath Yatra. The festival combines the heady intensity of a Hindu pilgrimage centre with the more hedonistic pleasures of the beach. The Konark is just up the coast, which features the ruins of Odisha’s most ambitious medieval temple, whose surfaces are beautiful, including some eye-raising erotica. Before anything, let us first understand the brief history of Odisha’s culture.

Odisha’s Brief History

Other than scattered fragmentary remains of prehistoric settlement, the earliest archaeological find dates of Odisha is from the fourth century BC. Earlier, the fortified city of Sisupalgarh, near today’s Bhubaneswar, was the capital of the Kalinga dynasty, about which people know quite little.

With the demise of the Mauryans, Kalinga experienced a resurgence. Under the imperialistic Chedi Jain dynasty, people spent a huge amount of money to expand the capital and carve elaborate monastery caves into the nearby hills of Udayagiri and Khandagiri. During the second century BC, the kingdom slowly splintered into warring factions and entered something of a dark age.

Another prominent history is the discovery of Lord Jagannath. Every year during Debasnana Purnima in Puri Jagannath Temple, the priests give baths to the three deities in 108 pots of cold water. Later they become sick and go into 15 days of ‘Anasara’.The Chitrakars made paintings of Lord Jagganath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra, called Pattachitra. It helps the public can pay obeisance and is known as ‘Anasar Patti’

Now, let us see what is the best time to visit the state.

Best time to visit Odisha

October to March, especially November, December, and January, is one of the best times to visit the state. Avoid visiting the place in April or May as it gets uncomfortably hot. However, Odisha’s most famous festival, Rath Yatra, takes place somewhere in June or July. Apart from Rath Yatra, various other festivals depict the uniqueness of Odisha culture. Let’s check out:

Festivals in Odisha

• Makar Mela (mid-Jan)

For leaving votive offerings in the cave of goddess Kali, pilgrims all over Odisha and other parts of India come to a tiny island in Chilika Lake.

• Adivasis Mela (Jan 26–Feb 1)

While the tribal fair of Bhubaneswar is not so great a cross between an agricultural show and New York’s Coney Island, it features some amazing live dance and music.

• Magha Saptami (Jan/Feb)

During the full-moon phase of Magha, thousands of worshippers swamp a small pool at Chandrabhaga beach, near Konark, honouring Surya, the sun god and cure of skin ailments.

• Pana Sankranti (early April)

In various regions of Odisha on the first day of Vaisakha, saffron-clad penitents carrying peacock feathers enter trances to walk on hot coals.

• Chaitra Parba (mid-April)

In Chaitra Parba, one of the largest Adivasi groups of Odisha, Santals (the perform Chhou dance at Baripada in Mayurbhanj district, northern Odisha.

• Ashokastami (April/May)

Bhubaneswar’s Car Festival takes place as a procession of temple chariots. In this festival, the Lingaraj deity takes a dip in the Bindu Sagar tank.

• Sitalasasthi (May/June)

People in Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur celebrate the festival of Sitalasasthi to commemorate the marriage of Shiva and Parvati.

• Rath Yatra (June/July)

Rath Yatra is one of the biggest and grandest of all the festivals of Odisha. Giant images of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and his sister Subhadra embark on a sacred journey from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha Mandir in Puri.

• Bali Yatra (Nov/Dec)

Bali Yatra is a commemoration of voyages made by Odishan traders to Indonesia. Usually, the festival takes place at the full moon on the banks of the River Mahanadi in Cuttack.

• Konark Festival (early Dec)

This is a classical dance festival where dancers perform Odishan and other regional dance forms in the Sun Temple at Konark.

As a beginner, these are some of the things you must know about Odisha.

Conclusion

Odisha has 485 kilometres of coastline. Most of it is still in pristine condition. Once upon a time, this region was a crucial seafaring empire with trading routes to the Indonesia archipelago. The state stands for its modern endeavours and ancient glories. Odisha is filled with amazing temples, historic monuments and pieces of a modern engineering feat.

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