Folk Life and Culture of Odisha

This book attempts to present an accurate picture of the different aspects of the folk life and culture of south Odisha during the colonial era from historical point of view. Lying between the north and south India across a natural highway along the eastern coast of India, south Odisha acts like a cultural bridge between the Aryan culture of north and Dravidian culture of south. This region occupies a distinct place in the folk cultural tradition of India. The geographical location, the topographic feature, the religious and literary background, the beauty and the bounty of the nature all have jointly contributed significantly towards the culmination of its unique pattern of folk culture. It is regarded as the cradle of many folk dances, music, festivals, beliefs and art. Drawing primarily upon the original sources the book encompasses, the nature and composition of folk people, varieties of folk tales, origin and growth of folk songs, folk dances and theatres. Meticulous care has been taken to throw light on the folk festivals, folk beliefs, folk art and crafts, folk medicines and folk methods of treatment.The work will be highly useful for the artists, tourists, teachers, students, researchers, administrators and the general readers as well.