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Why was the name Orissa changed to Odisha?
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Odisha
Jagannatha temple, Puri, Odisha, India.
The name of the state was formally changed from Orissa to Odisha in the early 21st century to better reflect the pronunciation of the name in the Odia language.1
Historically, the region was known by various names, including Utkala, Kalinga, and Odra Desha. Over time, Odra Desha evolved into Odisha, which was later anglicized to Orissa during the colonial period. This anglicized spelling persisted for many years until the original name, Odisha, was officially reinstated to align more accurately with its native linguistic roots.1