Orissa, Indian State
Each morning the sun breaks over the Konark temple,
bringing to life one of the most beautiful states of India Orissa.
Blessed with the creativity of thousands of artists who have given
expression to the miles of unspoilt coastline, lakes, ancient monuments,
temples through their artisanship, Orissa is a land of plenty. It
lies on the Bay of Bengal and is bordered by Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand and West Bengal states of India. It occupies an area of
60119 sq mi and its capital is Bhubaneshwar. The beauty of Orissa
unravels like a story through its monuments, landscape and the history.
Kalinga, as Orissa was known in ancient times, remained unconquered
till King Ashoka captured this state. Orissa has preserved its past
in about 500 delicately carved temples and monuments. Pilgrims looking
for peace and happiness visit Bhubaneshwar and Puri. The annual
rath yatra has for years attracted devotees from India and abroad.
Konark or the Black Pagoda, with its striking Sun temple, is famous
for the beautiful and quite open erotic images. Lake Chilika is
an attraction not only to the tourists but also to the migratory
birds. This lake is a treasure house of aquatic flora and fauna.
Odissi, the traditional dance of Orissa is well known for its beauty, stylishness and elegance. The complex parody and rhythm mix together giving birth to various graceful expressions. The fabulous handicrafts and paintings have added colours to simple life style of people in Orissa. The most popular crafts Patta-Chitra and palm-leaf engraving serve as souvenirs from the state. The silver filigree (jewel work of a delicate kind made with twisted threads usually of gold and silver) and Applique (Applique is the art of sewing smaller pieces of fabric onto a larger background) are distinct art forms of great detail holding the observer in admiration. The artists of Orissa still live and work in isolated tribal habitations, small villages, and traditional pilgrimage towns throughout the state. It is in these little nooks and corners of the state that traditions Thrives and flourishes to its full extent.
History
The inscriptions on Hati Gumpha (Elephant Cave)
on the Udayagiri Hill in Bhubaneswar record the story of his reign.
Kalinga maintained its trade links with overseas countries during
the first three centuries of the Christian era but the kingdom itself
was divided into a number of principalities. In the fourth century
A.D. Emperor Samudragupta invaded Orissa and overcame the resistance
offered by five of her chiefs. Orissa came under the rule of King
Sasanka and later King Harsha Vardhana in the 7th century A.D. Towards
the middle of the century the Somavamsi dynasty was firmly established
in the land. The remnant of an Ashokan pillar, turned into a Siva
Lingam and enshrined in the Bhaskaresvara temple at Bhubaneswar
and the lion capital of an Ashokan pillar, presently in the State
Museum, speak volumes of Orissa`s past glory. The rock-cut caves
of Khandagiri and Udaygiri and the inscriptions recording Kharavela`s
short but eventful reign during the first century B.C. constitute
the second phase of the evolution in Orissan art. The Naga and Yaksha
images found in places around Bhubaneswar belong to the post-Kharavela
era. Orissa was at the height of her superb artistic glory during
seventh to thirteenth century A.D. The Sailodbhava dynasty of Banpur
is responsible for the earliest temples around Bhubaneswar. Orissa
is also known for her exquisite handicrafts.
Location
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