'''Odissi''', also known as '''Orissi''' ({{lang-or|ଓଡିଶୀ}} ''Oḍiśī''), is a major ancient [[Indian classical dance|classical dance]] that originated in the [[Hindu temple]]s of [[Odisha]] – an eastern coastal state of [[India]].<ref name=britannicaodis>[https://www.britannica.com/art/odissi Odissi] ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' (2013)</ref>{{Sfn|Williams|2004|pp=83-84, the other major classical Indian dances are: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Manipuri, Cchau, Satriya, Yaksagana and Bhagavata Mela}}<ref>http://ccrtindia.gov.in/classicaldances.php Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT);<br>{{cite web|url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/guide-snaawards.htm |title=Archived copy |accessdate=6 November 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014000750/http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/guide-snaawards.htm |archivedate=14 October 2013 }} Guidelines for Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna and Akademi Puraskar</ref> Odissi, in its history, was performed predominantly by women,<ref name=britannicaodis/><ref name="Claus2003p136">{{cite book|author1=Peter J. Claus|author2=Sarah Diamond|author3=Margaret Ann Mills|title=South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia|url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ienxrTPHzzwC |year=2003|publisher=Routledge |isbn= 978-0-415-93919-5 |pages=136 }}</ref> and expressed religious stories and spiritual ideas, particularly of [[Vaishnavism]] (Vishnu as [[Jagannath]]), but also of other traditions such as those related to Hindu gods [[Shiva]] and [[Surya]], as well as Hindu goddesses ([[Shaktism]]).<ref name="KothariPasricha1990p41">{{cite book|author1=Sunil Kothari|author2=Avinash Pasricha|title=Odissi, Indian classical dance art |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=P_0MAQAAMAAJ |year=1990|publisher=Marg Publications|isbn=978-81-85026-13-8|pages=4–6, 41 }}
