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]
ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଲୋକ Odiā Lōka | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 40 million | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 India | 38,033,000 (2021) |
 United Kingdom | 170,000[1] |
 Australia | 130,000 [2] |
 Germany | 80,000 [3] |
 New Zealand | 40,000[4] |
| Languages | |
| Odia | |
| Religion | |
Predominantly: HinduismMinorities:
| |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indo-Aryan people , Bonaz people | |
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)
See also
References
External links
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