Exotic Orissa

With the advent of winter in Orissa the land of Kalinga , gear up with festive mood. Orissa with its rich heritage and culture diversity comes alive with different dance festivals. Orissa's most popular and old dance form "Odissi", which in ancient period was performed by devadasi in front of Lord Jagannath in Puri Jagganth temple. Since than the art of dancing Odissi is passed from master to its disciple is called Guru Parampara. Orissa the land of Kalinga war, where King Ashoka transformed in to a Buddhist Monk, is still the most peaceful state in India.

Konark dance festival
Konark is the part of Golden Triangle lays 65KMs from city of temples Bhuabaneswar. Konark derives its name from Konarka, the presiding deity of the Sun Temple. Konarka is actually a combination of two words, Kona (corner) and Arka (sun), which, when combined, means the sun of the corner. Konark Dance Festival is a fiesta of classical dance. It is held from 1st to 5th December every year in the amphitheater.

Natyamandir
The beautiful exquisite 'Natyamandir' or the 'dancing hall' of this 700-year old shrine is an architectural wonder with well-adorned sculptures in Odissi dance poses.

Konark Dance Festival takes place in an open-air auditorium against the backdrop of the floodlit temples that reverberates with the beats of 'Raga' and 'Tala' to fill the air with the sounds of classical music.

Konarak dance festival lasts for five days a host of celebrated dancers from all over the country perform in the open-air auditorium. The festival is a celebration of the much appreciated Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Kathak and Chau Dance - a lavish feast for the eyes and ears. The sound of Ghungroo bells, flute and Pakhauj gives it a festive mood. There is also a crafts mela, with a variety of handicrafts and tasty cuisine during the festival. The festival is jointly organised by Orissa Tourism and Odissi Research Centre.

Sand Art exhibition will be yet another attraction for tourists.

Mukteswar Dance Festival
Bhubaneswar city of temples lies a small and elegant Mukteswar Temple with its famous stone arch at the entrance is the gem of Orissan Architecture. The temple is also important as a transition point between the early and later phases of Kalinga School of Architecture for which this dance festival is named after the said temple.

The only festival of its kind in the world that showcases the best of Odissi in solo, duet and group format.

Mukteswar Dance Festival, the climax of Ekamra Utsav, is scheduled to commence in January. The sprawling green lawn in between Mukteswar-Parsurameswar Temple Complexes hosts this event.

The four-day dance festival at the heritage site of all the epoch-making gurus. Hence though Pankaj Charan Das, Kelucharana Mohapatra and Deba Prasad Das, who infused life into modern Odissi dance are all dead, they came out alive at the festival in their disciples performances .

Kalinga Mahotsav
Orissa Tourism every year, in the month of February, Art Vision, in collaboration with Orissa Tourism and Nalco, organises the Kalinga Mahotsav, a festival exclusively dedicated to martial dances. The Festival takes place at the footstep of the Dhauli stupa, the Japanese Buddist Temple situated on a hill at the outskirts of modern Bhubaneswar. This is the place where Emperor Ashoka is believed to have fought the last battle of the great Kalinga war before surrendering the sword and embracing Buddism.

The calm and solemn statue of Buddha overlooking the entire stage from the top of the stupa and the tranquil expanse of the countryside populated by paddy fields and cashew plantations provides the peaceful background to the outburst of movements and sounds which accompanied the performance of the martial artists. The aim of the organisers is to 'harmonise the vigour of martial tradition with the sublimity of peace through dance performances'

Folk Dance Festival

The festivals of the tribals constitute a integral part of their social life and relate to their strong beliefs in the power of supernatural elements and community togetherness. Their traditions can best be captured at these fairs and festivals. Most festivals are occasions that mark the change of season relating to harvest of crops and some are religious events commemorating a local deity. Some of the larger and popular celebrations include a week long Tribal Fair at Bhubaneswar (starts 26 January), the Chhow Festival at Baripada (April), the Folk Dance Festival (January) at Sambalpur, the Tribal Festival at Koraput (November).

Innumerable folk traditions and spirits are manifested by way of observing vratas and oshas (fasts) by Hindus in Orissa. The observance is believed to resist the materialistic aspects of human life, augment belief in religion, bring welfare, prosperity and long life to the near and dear ones, recovery from ailments, beget a good match, and may be a bumper harvest. Most of these observations are marked by a spirit of sanctity, worship and painting walls and floors with rice paste.

In addition to the above mentioned festivals, the Puri Beach Festival in November . The events range from exhibition of handloom, cultural programmes and food festival.

Odissi Dance - The Odissi dance of Orissa is one of the six acknowledged classical dance forms of India. Like all other Indian Classical dances, it also has its initiation in religion and philosophy with an origin in the temples of Orissa. The rhythm, Bhangas and Mudras used in Odissi dance have a distinct style of its own. This dance is also known for the tri-bhanga. The dance is performed mainly with the theme of Infinite love of Lord Krishna and Radha. The odissi dance attire is totally different from other dances as they use the ornaments of silver filigree work & the ornaments made up of solo(type of fruit).

Famous Odissi Dancers - Some of the renowned Odissi dancers are Guru Pankajcharan, Guru Kelucharna, Late Debprasad, late Sanjukta Panigrahi, Kumkum Mohanty, Indrani Rehema, Guru Nabakishore, Guru Gangadhar, Guru Ranbir, Guru Subrat Pattanaik and Ileana Citaristi , Sonal Mansingh, Late Protima Bedi, Madhavi Mudgal.