Odia Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Odisha lies on India's east coast along the Bay of Bengal. It is famous for the Jagannath Temple at Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark and its classical Odissi dance. Odia, its language, has one of India's oldest literary traditions. Odia families in Birmingham include many professionals and students.

The community in numbers

The 2021 Census does not publish a separate Birmingham figure for the Odia community, which is counted within the census's figures for Indian heritage and for other South Asian languages. By any measure it is one of the city's smaller communities, which makes the ties between its members all the closer.

Working for Birmingham

Odia doctors, engineers, researchers and IT professionals work in Birmingham's hospitals, universities and businesses. Many came to Britain through medical training or postgraduate study, and they contribute to healthcare, science and technology while staying closely connected to one another.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Odia community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Rath Yatra, the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, and Durga Puja are highlights of the Odia calendar, and the community has held its own celebrations in the region. Odissi dance and music are taught to children, and dishes such as dalma and pakhala, and the sweet rasagola, are proudly shared.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Odia community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.