The Panorama of Odisha’s Rural Culture: A Kaleidoscopic View

This book attempts to present the rich and diverse culture of Odisha which has evolved over the ages and is very much synchronised with the social and economic lives of the people of the state. They have their roots in the traditions, conventions, and practices since time immemorial and for a long time they were the source of rural solidarity, rural economy and were dominating the rural social lives and polity. But there is no authenticated documentation on these elements of culture of Odisha which has led to the design of this book. The book documents the typicality of the culture starting from taboos and folklore to customary laws and rural festivities. It has also tried to capture the unique role played by temple culture in the evolution of rural settlements and how till date it controls the rural cultural practices, the scenarios and situations of the rural market, rural cuisine, and rural sports. Added to this it has brought into its ambit a chapter on the handloom haat which not only exhibits the exquisite handloom products but the way it provides life and livelihood to the local rural settlers. All these integral components of Odisha’s rural culture have been picked up from specific districts of the state which symbolise the uniqueness of the rural little traditions and the way they contribute to the great tradition of the state.…