Orissa has the third highest concentration of tribals. There are about 62 tribes existing in Orissa today. The tribal population is located mainly in the Korapur, Phulbani, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj districts. Many of the Adivasis (Tribal People) live in remote and inaccessible hill regions of the state. Due to remoteness they are untouched by modern civilization and thus the tribal traditions have been left intact through the ages. Each tribal group has its own distinct language, culture, religion and social custom.

Due to being untouched by modern civilization the tribals still continue to practice their old artistic skills. The woven clothes they wear and the rudimentary ornaments are made of Wood, stones, sheet's metal etc.. These clothes and ornaments are fascinating and in the cities these things are now considered as trendy and fashionable. The ethnic paintings on the walls of their houses and floors and tattooing on their bodies are also a hit with the city folk who consider all this very modern and in fashion. Some of the main tribals living in Orissa are as follows: -

SANTHALS
Comprising the second most numerous groups. They live mainly in the northern district of Mayurbhanj and Balasore-particularly around the Simlipal national park. Marriage within the clan is forbidden. Language spoken by them is Santhali.
The Santhals believe in Supernatural beings, both animate and inanimate. They fear evil spirits. They practice witchcraft. The medicine men of this tribe are called the Ojhas. This tribe has distinctive lifestyle, customs and folk dance.

KHONDS
This tribe is concentrated in the West and is largest in number. The language they speak is called "Kuvi", a Dravidian language. The use of bows and arrows is still prevalent to defend themselves and for hunting purpose.
Human sacrifice is replaced by animal sacrifice to appease the Gods to bring good luck, prosperity and fertility.

BONDAS
These tribals are of the Tibeto Burmese origin. This tribe is concentrated in the southern districts, especially around Koraput. They are also called the "naked people". Women wear a narrow loincloth made from plant fibre and wear a lot of rudimentary ornaments. The girls often select much younger boys for marriage who must pay bride price. They usually grow paddy by shifting cultivation and domesticate goats and cows.

SAORAS
This tribe usually lives in the hills of Parkhmundi and Gunupur. Polygamy is common amongst this tribe. They have distinct customer, dance and religious beliefs.

KOYAS
This tribe lives usually in the clearings in the middle of a dense forest. They are distinguished by their peculiar and unique headgear made of bison horn.

REST OF THE POPULATION
The population of Orissa is around 33 million. Hinduism is the dominant religion practiced here. Nearly 95% of its population is Hindu, Muslims 2% and Christians form 2% of the population.

Odissi
This dance form has intricate and graceful hand, feet and facial movements. The dancers follow strict rules of position of the body and its other parts. A favorite subject for interpolation is Jayadev's "Gita Govinda" (12^th century) which deals with stories depicting Krishna's love for Radha, both devotional and sensual expressions find its way in this dance form. The dance in ancient times was performed in the temples as a tribal offering to the Gods.

The other folk dances are the "Chaitghoda", the traditional fishermen dance, in which a dummy horse is the main character, the battle dance called "Pari ka Nritya" and chhah-masked dance. Its movements are influenced by martial art and "Danda Nritya", (ritual dance) performed during festivals.

Rice is the staple food followed by wheat. In coastal areas fresh seafood like prawns and the flat pomfret fish are a favorite.Some of the famous dishes of Orissa are "Dahi and Bigono" (aubergines cooked with yogurt) "Baisord" (vegetables cooked with Mustard seed paste).
In Orissa, in all big restaurants in the cities, all types of Indian, Chinese, Thai, continental food etc. are available.
Orissa is particularly noted for its sweetmeats prepared from milk like pitha (filled with coconut), Khiramohan, Rajbhog, Rabdi etc.
Tea and coffee is freely available. Fruit juices of Mango, Bel and sugarcane is available. The refreshing coconut "milk" is sold on the roadside.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

Orissa is also known as Utkala - "Land of arts and crafts", a title that is apt even today as one can see a variety of very distinctive crafts in every nook and corner of Orissa. Some of them are as follows:-

STONE CARVING: Stone carvings on the temples at Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark still inspire the modern craftsmen. These sculptures find their way in to intricate carvings on soapstone, stones, hard Conchilla etc.

In Puri, on the stone carving street or "Pathuria Sahi", one can find numerous items carved on stones, like jewellery boxes, figures of Gods and Goddess, miniature temple invitations, small boxes, trays etc. Designs on them with the use of fine silver wire, colored stones and even jali- work are used on the stone items.

WOOD CARVINGS: Various items of wood, intricately carved with inlay work are a favorite with the artisans. Replica of Lord Jagganath temple and Rath Yatra, animals, birds, temples, Gods and Goddess are common themes made in wood. Exotic ivory inlay work (sale of ivory in open market is banned) has now been replaced by plastic. Colorful ‘Paper-mache', masks of deities and animals are a favorite item made by the craftsman and find a good market in both Indian and foreign buyers.

SILVER FILIGREE: This work was made famous by the artisans of Cuttack. Silver wire is used to make various fragile and beautiful items and turn it to make exquisite designs i.e. floral designs. Various objects and jewellery items are made of silver filigree work.

METAL WORK
Various items of brassware and bell metal (alloy of tin and copper) like utensils etc. is easily available. Figurines, boxes, vases, decorative plates etc. made of metals are also available. Items made by tribals by their unique metal casting method called the dokra style are also available.

PAINTINGS
The "Patta Chitras" made by painters from Raghurajpur village near Puri is famous. In such paintings a specially prepared cloth is coated with earth to stiffen it and finally coated with lacquer after painting, to give it a sheen and a protective coating from the vagaries of nature. Attractive playing cards are also made by the above method.
The painters also produce fine murals for temples and manuscripts on paper and palm leaf. Cheap momentos to suit each pocket are made by the artisans for economic reasons, which are crude.
The best painters get an opportunity to paint the Puri temple and deities and their "Cars" each year. The painters look forward to this honor of painting the temple and the ‘Rath’ or cars each year.

PALM LEAF ETCHING

This unique skill is still practiced. An iron stylus is held stationary while moving the leaf to produce finely illustrated manuscripts. Old manuscripts are also found well preserved in the museum in Orissa. The leaves are prepared by drying, boiling and drying again and flattening before coating with shell. After the inscriptions had been inscribed with an iron stylus, the grooves are rubbed with soot or powdered charcoal. white color was added with a brush. These then would be strung together and placed between decorative covers made of wood. This art form is still practiced and patrons of this art form are ready to pay a good price.

APPLIQUE
The gaily colored applique umbrellas of pipli are available everywhere. The motifs used are elephants, flowers and geometrical designs. Pipli is a small town about 31-km southwest of Bhubaneshwar. Applique sun-umbrellas, cushions, wall hangings, canopies etc. Applique work is usually done in colors-yellow, red and blue are used to make animals, birds, flowers. Applique items are favorite buys by the tourists.

TEXTILE WEAVING

These cottage industries are found in all parts of Orissa. The unique "resist" method of dyeing the warp or weft thread or both, before weaving results in an interesting enmeshed pattern, typical of Orissa fabrics. Silk and cotton saris are made in some of the prominent centres like Berhampore, Mayurbhanj, Nuapatna, and Sambhalpur.

CRAFTS VILLAGE & GOVERNMENT EMPORIUM

At several crafts villages like Raghurajpur (12km from Puri) one can get to buy & see palm leaf etchings or paintings.

Pipli is 32km southwest of Bhubaneshwar and is famous for its applique work. At Chandragiri near Taptapani one can get Tibetan carpets and wall hangings from the Tibetan community living here. Bell metal items from Belakati (10 km from Bhubaneshwar), stone carvers village at the root of Lalitgiri hills, silver filigree work in Cuttack, master weavers work on their looms & sell these items in Nuapatna (70 km from Bhubaneshwar or in the narrow streets of Behrampur)

All these items can be obtained at one place i.e. the "Orissa Handicraft Emporiums" found in various cities of Orissa and in many cities of India.

The numerous temples at Bhubaneshwar along with the Lord Jagganath temple at Puri and the Sun temple at Konark, are mirrors to the development of Orissa's architecture from the 7^th to the 13^th century A.D. Many temples have been ravaged by weather and time and suffered extensive structural damages, but still many are intact or restored and are living examples of their age and the time when they were built. These temples are centers of active pilgrimage, worship and faith for the devout.

At Jagganath Puri the ritual of an annual "Rath Yatra" still continues with reverence and great pomp and show. In the famous Dingraja temple, Non Hindus are not allowed, but its structural beauty can be enjoyed from a raised platform just outside the precinct of the temple. Even with restrictions the temples that are open, provide ample opportunity to follow the development of Orissa's Art and Architecture. The temples in Bhubaneshwar are within 2km of each other and are very easy to reach. Most of the temples are easily accessible even though they are up in the mountains.

CLIMATE

Lying just south of the Tropic of Cancer, Orissa is very warm throughout the year. The hills around are sufficiently high (1,500m) to moderate the temperature. January and February are the driest seasons in Orissa. It has the shortest dry season in India because Orissa comes under the direct path of the southwest monsoon currents, thus bringing heavy rainfall (about 1,500 mm). The southern part receives about 1,250mm of rainfall. The rainy seasons lasts from June till Sept and then the rain decreases till the end of November.

The best season to visit Orissa is throughout the year except the heavy rainy season. But if one likes the monsoon, then one can visit Orissa in any time of the year.

India is a land of fairs and festivals, what with people belonging to diverse cultures and religion. There are festivals like Holi (festival of colors) Deepawali (The festival of lights and is celebrated by bursting crackers, celebrated as welcoming festivities after Lord Rama returns to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile). Dusshera (Victory of good over evil. The killing of Ravana by Lord Ram) Mahashivratri", (The marriage of Lord Shiva & Parvati) Janamasthmi (birthday of Lord Krishna), Ramnavnmi (birthday of Lord Rama) etc. which are festivals celebrated all over India.

Some of the more famous fairs & festivals of Orissa are. The 'Makar Mela' on Kaliral Islands, Chilka Lake, Tribal fair of Bhubaneshwar. Car festival of Lord Lingaraja of Bhubaneshwar and the most popular of all which is famous in India and amongst the foreign tourist is the 'Rath-Yatra" of Puri."

The 'Rath-Yatra' of Puri is celebrated with great pomp and show and has great significance and is looked up with great reverence by the devout. The three dieties, Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, are taken out in a chariot procession to their summer temple for a week. Prior to the Yatra the deities have a ritual bath.

The bathing of the deities is done ceremoniously and elaborate rituals amongst chanting of hymns. Another interesting ritual is the sweeping of the Rath or "Chariot" by the ex-royal family of Puri with a golden-broom. This ritual shows that before God everybody is equal i.e." "Raja Aur Rank Ek Barabar," the deities then retire to their garden-home. The deities are dressed elaborately with new clothes everyday, and after eight days, the deities are brought back to the main temples drawn by the devotees. There is a great rush to get the privilege to draw the 'Rath' carrying the deities. The best painters (many of them from Raghurajpur) get an opportunity which they eagerly look forward to, the honor of painting the deities and the "Raths" before the "Rath-Yatra" Prasad is distributed from the car on the way of the procession and the Rath Yatra is accompanied by devotional music.

The ‘Bali Yatra’ of Cuttack on the Kartik Purnima day in October/November is another memorable event. During olden days it was held in memory of the traders who had set sail for the islands of Bali, Java and Sumatra. On this day people go to bathe in the Mahanadi River, sail tiny boats made of pith and paper. This is done now as a token to the boat journey to the islands of Bali, Java & Sumatra.

For four days a huge day long fair is held on the banks of the Mahanadi River in front of the Barabti fort.

"Ashokasthmi" (Mach-April). It is a mini Rathyatra of Lord Shiva at the Lingaraj temple.

"Durga Puja" (Sept-Oct) when images of mother Goddess is worshipped for nine days and on the 10th day the images of the Goddesses are immersed in the river & sea whichever is nearby.

"Raja Sankrati" (June) It is celebrated mainly by women. Mainly women welcoming the first showers celebrate it. It is a 3-day festival.
Konark dance festival held in Konark in December. It is an open-air dance festival, where dancers from all over India assemble.
"Tribal Fair" in January is held at the Lingaraja temple here one gets to see excellent tribal dance performance and tribal arts & craft.