Odissi Music is a classical form consisting of all the necessary ingredients common to Hindustani and Karnatic Music, such as rags and tala Jayadeva' was the first Oriya poet who composed lyrics meant to be sung and thus the words of those Lyrics were musical to start with. In addition he indicated the classical ragas prevailing At the time in which these were to be sung.

Odissi ragas are different from the ragas of Hindustani and Karnataki music. The chief Odissi ragas are Kalyana, Nata, Shree Gowda, Baradi, Panchama, Dhanashri, Karnata, Bhairavee and Shokabaradi.

Thus we see, that classical Odissi music lacks nothing in grammar, rhetoric or composition to compare with Hindustani or Karnataki styles. It owes much to Jayadev, the saint-poet, the great composer and illustrious master of classical music.

The greatest exponents of Odissi music in modern times are the late Singhari Shyamasundar Kar, Markeandeya Mahapatra, Kashinath Pujapanda, Balakirshan Das, Bhubaneswari Misra and Shymamani Devi. Who have achieved eminence in classical music include among others Sunanda Patnaik.

Odissi Music is a classical form consisting of all the necessary ingredients common to Hindustani and Karnatic Music, such as rags and tala Jayadeva' was the first Oriya poet who composed lyrics meant to be sung and thus the words of those Lyrics were musical to start with. In addition he indicated the classical ragas prevailing At the time in which these were to be sung. Prior to this there was the tradition Of chhandas which were simple in musical outline. From the 16th century onwards Treatises on music were written or compiled in Orissa. They were Sangitamava Chandrika, Gita Prakasha, Sangita Kalalata and Natya Manorama. Two treatises namely, Sangita Sarani and Sangita Narayana were also written in the early 19th century.

Odissi dance is a typical classical dance form in Orissa, has its origin in the temples of Orissa. As the temples are the seats of cultural life in this state, Odissi form of classical dance has been closely connected with their day-to-day activities. Odissi dance is a peculiar form of Indian classical dance.The rhythm, Bhangis and Mudras used in Odissi dance have a distinctive style of their own. Odissi dance mainly deals with the theme of infinite love between Radha and Krishna.
History provide evidences of the practice of dedicating dancing girls to the temple in honour of Gods. Devadasis or dancing girls were dedicated to the temple in Kashmir,Bengal, Orissa, Saurashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mysore, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The institution of Devadasis is now extinct everywhere except in Orissa. Devadasis in Orissa are known as Maharis, meaning mahat naris .

During the rule of Chodagangadeva Devadasis were employed in the Jagannath temple. After Chodagangadeva’s death Anangabhimadeva came to power and built Natyamandapa of the Jagannath temple. It was intended for performance of Maharias and the musicians inside the temple.
There were two types of Maharis, the Bhitara Gani Maharis and Bahara Gani Maharis. Bhitara Gani Maharis were permitted to enter the innermost sanctum of the temple and sing during Badasingara while Bahara Gani Maharis were allowed to dance in Natyamandapa .