Orissa has rich artistic heritage and has produced some of the best examples of Indian Art and Architecture. Artistic traditions are maintained through Mural Paintings, Stone carving, wood carving, Icon paintings (known as Patta Paintings), and Paintings on Palm Leaves. Handicraft workers are famous for their exquisite Silver Filigree Ornamentation and Decorative work.

In Tribal areas have a wide variety of folk Dances. The Music of the Madal and Flute is common in the Countryside. The Classical dance of Orissa, known as Orissi Dance, has survived per more than 700 Years. Originally it was a temple Dance, performed before Gods. The moods, movements, gesturers and poses of the Dance are depicted in the form of Sculpture and in Relief Carvings. Modern exponents of the Dance have made it popular outside the State. The Chhau dance (performed by groups of masked dancers) of Mayurbhanja and Saraikala regions is another feature of Oriya Culture. For the promotion of dancing and Music, the Kakavikash Kendra center was founded at Cuttack in 1952 with a 6 year teaching Course. The National Music Association serves a similar purpose. Other notable Dance and Music centers in Cuttack are The Utkal Sangeet Samaj, The Utkal Smruti Kala Mandap and the Mukti Kala Mandir.

There are many traditional festivals. A unique festival is the Ceremony of Boita Bandana (worshipping of ships). In October and November for 5 consecutive days before the Full moon, people gather near river ranks or the sea shore and float miniature boats, as a symbolic gesture that they will leave for the far away lands (Malaysia and the East Indies) to which their ancestors once sailed. The greatest religious festival of Orissa is the Chariot Festival of Lord Jagannath at Puri that attracts hundreds of thousands of people from all parts of India.