User:Srbehera

Orissa Culture Center

Orissa Culture Center (OCC) is a registered non-profit US corporation with a tax-exempt organization status of 501 (C)(3) with the IRS. OCC derives its name from a small state on the east coast of India called Orissa (now renamed to pre-British period era, Odisha), famous for its cultural heritage. Many of its architectural sites are in the UN World Heritage catalog. Although the state is a little unknown in the world arena, it still serves as a beacon of peace, universal brotherhood, and friendship through one of its annual flagship events called Ratha Yatra, better known as Chariot or Car festival at Puri. The event draws more than a million people every year from all over the world of all races, religions, castes, and creeds. Similarly, one of the greatest classical dance forms that India has to offer to the world, Odishi, has its origin in this state. According to Natya Shastra of Bharat Muni, the earliest treatise on the ancient dance forms that emanated from India, Odishi holds the dignity of being the oldest and most ancient. It is strange that while the event and the cultural art forms that the state has to offer have crossed its natural geographical boundaries, very little is known about the state itself. That has led a few of the people from the state in the greater Houston area to form OCC to spread the message of peace and universal brotherhood through a medium that is considered an asset for the state – the art and culture.

Goal of OCC

OCC’s goal is to build a permanent infrastructure to support community events, and a house for its main deity that links its entire cultural heritage on a vibrant fabric. The building will also host a library and museum with a rich collection of books on Oriya literature and artifacts that are unique to the state, the most prominent being are those related to Lord Jagannath (Lord of the Universe) and Buddhism. It is expected that OCC will become a center for greater Houston Oriya community supporting activities such as, spiritual upbringing, cultural events, community service, education, music, dance, and cultural art. It will also become a center to promote Oriya language, and preserve and protect culture and tradition among the 2nd generation kids born to parents of Oriya origin.