Odisha

Orissa ଓଡ଼ିଶା
State of INDIA
Jagannath Temple, Puri
Location of Orissa in the Republic of India
Map of Orissa
Coordinates: 20.27°N 85.82°E / 20.27; 85.82
Country	India
Region	East India
Government
• Legislature	Unicameral (* seats)
Area
• Total	155,820 km2 (60,160 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	41,947,358
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
Official languages	Oriya · English
^*

Odisha, formerly Orissa, is a state in eastern India. It has an area of 155,820 km² (60,160 sq mi). The state has a population of almost 42 million. Oriya, or Odia, is the most widely spoken language in the state. It is used on an official basis with English. Chilika lake is in Odisha. It is the largest home to migratory birds on the Indian subcontinent. Odisha is the eighth largest Indian state. It also has the eleventh highest population. The capital city of the state is Bhubaneswar. Other major cities in the state are Cuttack, Sambalpur and Rourkela. Odisha is bordered by the states of West Bengal to the north east, Jharkhand to the north west, Chhattisgarh to the west, Andhra Pradesh to the south. It has a 482 km (300 mi)] coastline along the Bay of Bengal.

Modern-day Odisha falls under the boundaries of the ancient kingdom of Kalinga in the 3rd Century BCE, and the state is still sometimes referred to as Kalinga. Odisha is also known as Utkal, and is mentioned in the Indian National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, under this name. The Orissa province was founded on the 1st April 1936, and the anniversary of this is celebrated as Utkal Dibas throughout the state. The state was created on the basis of the Odia language, encompassing the native speakers of the language.

Popular tourist destinations in Odisha include the Konark Sun Temple, the Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves, the Puri Jagannath Temple, and Chilika Lake. Odisha has a rich culture, the Odissi classical dance form originates from the state and Odia cuisine is well-renowned for its seafood dishes and desserts. Odisha has successfully hosted several sports events as Asian Junior Women's Rugby Tournament, the 22nd Asian Athletics Championship, and the Men's Hockey World Cup in 2018.

Odisha is mostly inhabited by the Odia people, with Hinduism being the major religion in the state and Christian and Muslim minorities. There is a large tribal population in Odisha, referred to as the adivasi people, they are the indigenous people and speak various tribal languages and follow traditional religions, although many have converted to Christianity. Jainism and Buddhism also have important histories in the state.

Biju Patnaik International Airport (BBI) is Odisha's only airport, and the state is well-connected by railways, and national highways. The current Chief Minister of the state is Mohan Charan Majhi .

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  Khandagiri Gumpha
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  The Jagannath Temple in Puri
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  Chhau dance.

Provincial symbols

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  Blue jay, provincial bird of Odisha
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  Sambhar deer, provincial animal of Odisha
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  Sacred fig tree, provincial tree of Odisha
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  Ashoka tree, provincial flower of Odisha