Activities
We celebrate the festivals typical to the people of Odisha (such as Bishuba Milana, Kumar Utsava) and inviting other community people to participate. We, as a community, meet at least twice annually to celebrate Bisuva Milana and Kumar Purnima besides having outdoor picnic and cottage picnic every year.
Bishuba Milan
Our annual function Bishuba Milan is celebrated on the occasion of "Bishuba Sankranti". On this occasion members present plays, dance and songs showcasing Odia tradition, culture and heritage.
Sahitya Patha Chakra
Sahitya Patha Chakra continues to redefine the literary talent in the community with increasing enthusiasm. We devote half a day discussing the works of an eminent Odia author as well our budding and experienced talents recite their own poems.
One-day summer picnic
The one-day summer picnic offers all the members a chance to get together outdoors and enjoy the summer sunshine. Members participate in outdoor activities like cricket, volleyball, kabaddi, Bahu Chori and barbecue. Needless to say that excellent Odia food is an integral part of this picnic.
Four-day cottage picnic
Members are always eager and awaiting to leave the hustle and bustle of the city life to participate in the fun-filled four-day cottage picnic on the shores of the scenic Rice Lake and Lake Ontario. People stay in cottages, trailers and tents. Activities include boating, canoeing, fishing, swimming in Lake Ontario, volley ball games, and the best past-time of all, chit-chatting. This event is a homecoming for Odia families, who had started their North American life in Canada and are now residing in the USA.
Kumar Utsav
It is celebrated on the occasion of "Kumar Purnima" in October each year. It showcases the talent and creativity of our youth and young adult members. The highlight of the event is always a drama presentation by our very talented members.
Summer 1971: Odiya families living in Toronto, Hamilton and nearby areas gathered for a "PakhAla" party at the residence of Sri Gopal Mohanty; voiced their thoughts to form the Canada Chapter of OSA. In the fall of the same year, the small group of Odiyas celebrated the first "Kumara Purnima" featuring folk and Odissi dance recital. Chitralekha Patnaik, an eminent Odissi dancer from Toronto gave a premiere performance
Winter 1972: Odiya families in Canada came together for the fist time to celebrate "Saraswati Puja.
Summer 1972: A memorable three-day cottage picnic was held. It was a very successful event such that it became an annual event in due course of time. Participants from as far away as the USA were attracted to this event. The annual three-day cottage picnic initiated by the Odiyas in Canada was in many ways a precursor to the annual three-day Orissa Society of the Americas (OSA) convention initiated by the Washington chapter in 1983. Except for a period of break, the tradition continues and is a much sought after event.
Summer 1973: Baishaki celebration featured the one act play; "Pahada Ra Atma Katha" by Suren Mohanty (AIR), presumably this is the first time an oriya one act play was staged in North America.
Summer 1975: We hosted a half-day OSA convention with Jnana Ranjan Dash was the convener. Eminent Indian classical Dancer Menaka Thaker from Toronto presented a full-length Odissi repertoire for the first time in the history of the OSA.
as time passed......
Summer 1986: We hosted the OSA convention at Toronto with Ashok Das as the convener. The unique feature of this convention was a three-hour stage presentation on (Late) Mayadhar Mansinha's "The saga of the land of Jagannatha" through music, dance, skit and recitation. Jayashree Mohapatra presented Odishi.
