Oriyas
The Oriyas live mainly in the province of Orissa in eastern India, which became a state on 1 April 1936. The bordering states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chaatisgarh, and West Bengal have been influenced by different cultural traditions and have produced a unique Oriya culture. Forging a link between north and south India, the Oriyas have had a long experience of commercial, cultural, and military expansion. The Oriyas belong mainly to proto-Australoid and western brachycephalic stock and speak the Oriya language. With some twenty-two million speakers, Oriya is a direct descendent of Magadhi and its script a derivative of Bengali.
The Orissan empire once stretched from the Ganga River in the north to the Godavari River in the south. Maritime activities of the Oriyas made them a prosperous people, who contributed to the cultural rapprochement between India and Southeast Asia. The Oriyas are mostly Hindus, though a strong tribal influence can be found in their religion; they have built the magnificent temples of Konark, Lingaraj, and Jagannatha. Beautifully woven samblapuri clothes, silver filigree works, and Odissi dance are examples of Oriya artistry. The settlement pattern of the people is mainly rural, and agriculture is the main occupation.
Further Reading
Jena, B. B. (1981) Orissa: People, Culture, and Polity. New Delhi: Kalyani.
Mishra, P. K., and J. K. Samal. (1997) Comprehensive History and Culture of Orissa. New Delhi: Kaveri.
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