From Temple Ritual to Public Performance: Changing Contexts of Odishi Music

Author(s)	Dr. Sarbeswar Baitharu
Country	India
Abstract	Odishi music, one of the classical musical traditions of India, has historically evolved within the sacred cultural environment of Odisha, particularly in association with the Jagannath temple tradition. Originally embedded in ritualistic and devotional practices, the music gradually moved beyond temple premises into public concert platforms, cultural festivals, academic institutions and digital spaces. This paper examines the transformation of Odishi music from ritual practice to public performance tradition and analyzes how changing socio-cultural, political and aesthetic contexts reshaped its identity. The study explores the shift from sacred functionality to performative presentation, highlighting issues of modernization, institutionalization, audience reception, commercialization and cultural identity. The paper argues that while the transition enabled wider visibility and preservation of the tradition, it simultaneously altered the original spiritual and ritualistic ethos associated with Odishi music. The study contributes to ethnomusicological and performance studies discourse by examining how traditional musical forms negotiate continuity and change in modern cultural spaces.
Keywords	Odishi Music, Ritual Music, Performance Culture, Jagannath Tradition, Sacred Music, Odisha
Field	Arts > Movies / Music / TV
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 3, May-June 2026
Published On	2026-05-27
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i03.79636

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