Odia people

Odias
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଲୋକ; Odiā Lōka
Total population
	40 million
Regions with significant populations
India	38,033,000 (2021)
United Kingdom	170,000
Australia	130,000
Germany	80,000
New Zealand	40,000
Languages
	Odia
Religion
	Predominantly:; Hinduism; Minorities:; Christianity; Islam; Jainism; Buddhism and others;
Related ethnic groups
	Indo-Aryan people , Bonaz people

The Odia (ଓଡ଼ିଆ), formerly spelled Oriya, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Indian state of Odisha who speak the Odia language. They constitute a majority in the eastern coastal state, with significant minority populations existing in the neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.^[5]

History

Medieval period

The Shailodbhava dynasty ruled the region from the sixth to the eighth century. They built the Parashurameshvara Temple in the 7th century, which is the oldest known temple in Bhubaneswar. The ruled Odisha from the 8th to the 10th century. They built several Buddhist monasteries and temples, including Lalitgiri, Udayagiri and Baitala Deula. The Keshari dynasty ruled from the 9th to the 12th century. The Lingaraj Temple, Mukteshvara Temple and Rajarani Temple in Bhubaneswar were constructed during the Bhauma-Kara dynasty.^[6] They were introduced as a new style of architecture in Odisha, and the dynasty's rule shifted from Buddhism to Brahmanism.^[7]

Modern period

Odisha remained an independent regional power until the early 16th century. It was conquered by the Mughals under Akbar in 1568 and was thereafter subject to a succession of Mughal and Maratha rule before coming under British control in 1803.^[8]

In 1817, a combination of high taxes, administrative malpractice by the zamindars and dissatisfaction with the new land laws led to a revolt against Company rule breaking out, which many Odias participated in. The rebels were led by General Jagabandhu Bidyadhara Mohapatra Bhramarbara Raya.^[9]^[10]

Under Maratha control, major Odia regions were transferred to the rulers of Bengal that resulted in successive decline of the language over the course of time in vast regions that stretched until today's Midnapore district of West Bengal.^[11]^{[better source needed]}

Odisha became a separate province and the first officially recognized language-based state of India in 1936, after the amalgamation of the Odia regions from Bihar and Orissa Province, Madras Presidency and Chhattisgarh Division was successfully executed. 26 Odia princely states, including Sadheikala-Kharasuan in today's Jharkhand, also signed a merger with the newly formed state, while many major Odia-speaking areas were left out due to political incompetence.^[12]

Communities

The Odia people are subdivided into several communities such as the Brahmin, Karan, Kayastha, Khandayat, Gopal, Kumuti, Chasa, Bania, Kansari, Gudia, Patara, Tanti, Teli, Badhei, Kamara, Barika, Mali, Kumbhar, Siyal,^[13] Sundhi, Keuta, Dhoba, Bauri, Kandara, Domba, Pano,Hadi.^[14]

Culture

Cuisine

Seafood and sweets dominate Odia cuisine. Rice is the staple cereal and is eaten throughout the day. Popular Odia dishes are rasagolla, rasabali, chhena poda, chhena kheeri, chhena jalebi, chenna jhilli, chhenagaja, khira sagara, dalma, tanka torani and pakhala.^[15]^[16]

Festivals

A wide variety of festivals are celebrated throughout the year; There is a saying in Odia, ‘Baarah maase, terah parba’, that there are 13 festivals in a year. Well known festivals that are popular among the Odia people include the Ratha Yatra, Durga Puja, Rajo, Maha Shivratri, Kartika Purnima, Dola Purnima, Ganesh Puja, Chandan Yatra, Snana Yatra, Makar Mela, Chhau Festival, and Nuakhai.^[17]

Religion

Odisha is one of the most religiously and ethnically homogeneous states in India. More than 94% of the people are followers of Hinduism.^[18] Hinduism in Odisha is more significant due to the specific Jagannath culture followed by Odia Hindus due to independent rule of Odia Hindu kings. Hinduism flourished in the eastern coastal region under patronage of the Hindu kings: arts, literature, maritime trade, vedic rituals were given importance. The practices of the Jagannath sect is popular in the state and the annual Ratha Yatra in Puri draws pilgrims from across India.^[19]

Notable people

Achyutananda – Indian devotional Poet from Odisha
Binayak Acharya – Indian politician (1918–1983)
Afzal-ul Amin – Indian politician and social worker (1915-1983)
Subroto Bagchi – Indian entrepreneur and business leader
Bhikari Bal – Indian singer (1929–2010)
Hemananda Biswal – Indian politician (1939–2022)
Bhagabat Behera – Indian politician from Odisha (1940–2002)
Chakradhar Behera – Revolutionary from Odisha, India
Chandi Prasad Mohanty – Indian Army general
Sanatan Mahakud – Indian politician
Krishna Beura – Indian playback singer
Kadambini Mohakud – Cricketer
Dutee Chand – Indian sprinter (born 1996)
Nabakrushna Choudhuri – Indian politician and activist
Ashok Das – Indian American physicist
Bibhusita Das – Indian marine engineer
Bidhu Bhusan Das – Indian academic (1922-1999)
Bishwanath Das – Indian politician, lawyer, and philanthropist
Gopabandhu Das – Indian writer (1877–1928)
Madhusudan Das – Elderly and prominent freedom fighter, lawyer and social reformer from Odisha
Manoj Das – Indian author (1934–2021)
Nandita Das – Indian actress, director
Prabhat Nalini Das – Indian academic
Shaktikanta Das – Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
Anil Dash – American technology executive and entrepreneur
Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo – Politician from Odisha, India
Giridhar Gamang – Indian politician
Hussain Rabi Gandhi – Indian writer and politician (1948–2023)
Biswabhusan Harichandan – Indian politician (born 1934)
Mehmood Hussain – Indian filmmaker
Binod Kanungo – Indian educationalist and author (1912–1990)
Madhu Sudan Kanungo – gerontologist
Indrajit Mahanty – Former Chief Justice of Tripura High Court
Jayanta Mahapatra – Indian poet (1928–2023)
Harekrushna Mahatab – Indian politician (1899 – 1987)
Lalit Mansingh – Indian diplomat
Chaturbhuj Meher – Indian weaver
Gangadhar Meher – A renowned Odia poet of the 19th century born in Utkala (now known as Odisha)
Kailash Chandra Meher – Indian artist and painter
Kunja Bihari Meher – Indian weaver (1928–2008)
Sadhu Meher – Indian actor, director and producer (1939/1940–2024)
Atharuddin Mohammed – Dewan of Dhenkanal
Pramod Kumar Mishra – 13th Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India
Sabyasachi Mishra – Indian film actor
Baidyanath Misra – Indian economist, educationist, author, and administrator
B. K. Misra – Neurosurgeon
Dipak Misra – 45th Chief Justice of India
Ranganath Misra – 21st Chief Justice of India
Tapan Misra – Indian scientist
Biren Mitra – Indian politician (1917–1978)
Sayeed Mohammed – Indian Odia educationist, freedom fighter and philanthropist
Anubhav Mohanty – Odia actor and politician
Baisali Mohanty – Odissi dancer
Debashish Mohanty – Indian cricketer
Surendra Mohanty – Odia writer, politician
Uttam Mohanty – Indian actor
Bibhu Mohapatra – Indian American Fashion designer
Kelucharan Mohapatra – Indian classical dancer (1926–2004)
Sona Mohapatra – Indian singer
Arabinda Muduli – Odia singer, musician, lyricist (1961-2018)
Droupadi Murmu – President of India since 2022
Srabani Nanda – Indian sprinter
Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak – Indian journalist (born 1965)
Pragyan Ojha – Former Indian cricketer
Nila Madhab Panda – Indian film director
Arun K. Pati – Indian physicist
Biju Patnaik – Indian politician and aviator (1916-1997)
Janaki Ballabh Patnaik – Politician from Odisha, India (1927–2015)
Jayanti Patnaik – Indian parliamentarian and social worker (1932–2022)
Naveen Patnaik – Indian politician (born 1946)
Sudarshan Patnaik – Indian Sand Artist
Sambit Patra – Indian politician (born 1974)
Devdutt Pattanaik – Indian mythologist and writer (born 1970)
Dharmendra Pradhan – Indian politician
Manasi Pradhan – Indian writer and Women's rights activist
S.N. Pradhan – Director general of police
Tapan Kumar Pradhan – Indian writer
Ramakanta Rath – Indian poet from Odisha
Nilamani Routray – Indian politician (1920–2004)
Sarojini Sahoo – Indian (Odia) Writer
Archita Sahu – Indian actress and model
Jairam Samal – Odia actor
Debasish Samantray – Indian cricketer
Biplab Samantray – Indian cricketer
Pratap Chandra Sarangi – Indian politician
Nandini Satpathy – Politician from Odisha, India (1931–2006)
Fakir Mohan Senapati – Indian Odia author
Sadashiva Tripathy – Chief Minister of Odisha (1910-1980)
Bijaya Kumar Sahoo – Indian educationalist (1963–2021)

References

^ "Odias in the UK". Times Now. 21 April 2022.
^ "Census shows Indian population and languages have exponentially grown in Australia". SBS Australia. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
^ Baumann, Martin. "Immigrant Hinduism in Germany". Harvard University.
^ "New Zealand". Stats New Zealand. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
^ Minahan, James (2012). Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781598846591.
^ Smith, Walter (1994). The Mukteśvara Temple in Bhubaneswar. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 27. ISBN 978-81-208-0793-8.
^ Smith 1994, p. 26.
^ GYANENENDRA NATH MITRA (25 December 2019). "Book by British ICS officer covers 'Orissa' as a whole". dailypioneer. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
^ Sayed Jafar Mahmud (1994). Pillars of Modern India 1757-1947. APH Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-7024-586-5. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
^ "'Paika Bidroha' to be named as 1st War of Independence - NATIONAL - The Hindu". The Hindu.
^ Sengupta, N. (2011). Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-81-8475-530-5.
^ Sridhar, M.; Mishra, Sunita (5 August 2016). Language Policy and Education in India: Documents, contexts and debates. Routledge. ISBN 9781134878246. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
^ Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research in Archaeology, History, Literature, Languages, Folklore Etc. Education Society's Press. 1884.
^ Nab Kishore Behura; Ramesh P. Mohanty (2005). Family Welfare in India: A Cross-cultural Study. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 49–. ISBN 978-81-7141-920-3.
^ "Cuisine Of Odisha". odishanewsinsight. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
^ "Odia delicacies in Bengaluru's first 'Ama Odia Bhoji' to tickle taste buds". aninews. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
^ "The tenacious people of Odisha". telanganatoday. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
^ "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
^ "Lord Jagannath's Rathyatra as a Marker of Odia Identity". thenewleam. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

External links

Odisha.gov.in

[1] "Odias in the UK". Times Now. 21 April 2022.

[2] "Census shows Indian population and languages have exponentially grown in Australia". SBS Australia. Retrieved 28 June 2017.

[g-3] Baumann, Martin. "Immigrant Hinduism in Germany". Harvard University.

[4] "New Zealand". Stats New Zealand. Retrieved 30 December 2021.

[5] Minahan, James (2012). Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9781598846591.

[6] Smith, Walter (1994). The Mukteśvara Temple in Bhubaneswar. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 27. ISBN 978-81-208-0793-8.

[FOOTNOTESmith199426-7] Smith 1994, p. 26.

[8] GYANENENDRA NATH MITRA (25 December 2019). "Book by British ICS officer covers 'Orissa' as a whole". dailypioneer. Retrieved 25 December 2019.

[Mahmud1994-9] Sayed Jafar Mahmud (1994). Pillars of Modern India 1757-1947. APH Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 978-81-7024-586-5. Retrieved 10 February 2013.

[10] "'Paika Bidroha' to be named as 1st War of Independence - NATIONAL - The Hindu". The Hindu.

[11] Sengupta, N. (2011). Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib. Penguin Books Limited. ISBN 978-81-8475-530-5.

[12] Sridhar, M.; Mishra, Sunita (5 August 2016). Language Policy and Education in India: Documents, contexts and debates. Routledge. ISBN 9781134878246. Retrieved 25 December 2019.

[13] Indian Antiquary: A Journal of Oriental Research in Archaeology, History, Literature, Languages, Folklore Etc. Education Society's Press. 1884.

[BehuraMohanty2005-14] Nab Kishore Behura; Ramesh P. Mohanty (2005). Family Welfare in India: A Cross-cultural Study. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 49–. ISBN 978-81-7141-920-3.

[15] "Cuisine Of Odisha". odishanewsinsight. 16 November 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

[16] "Odia delicacies in Bengaluru's first 'Ama Odia Bhoji' to tickle taste buds". aninews. 12 January 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

[17] "The tenacious people of Odisha". telanganatoday. 2 December 2018. Archived from the original on 5 April 2019. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

[census2011-18] "Population by religion community – 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.

[19] "Lord Jagannath's Rathyatra as a Marker of Odia Identity". thenewleam. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2020.

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