The Odisha Society of the Americas

The Odisha Society of the Americas, or OSA, is an organization whose stated goals are to promote the culture of the Indian state of Odisha in the United States and Canada, and to facilitate the exchange of information between Odisha and North America.^[1] Founded in 1969, OSA is registered as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in the United States. The main event of the organization is an annual convention which aims to bring members of the Odia diaspora together to celebrate their ethnic culture. It held an annual get-together called convention, where people of Odia origin from different parts of USA and Canada mingled and shared experiences of ethnic living.

Odisha Society of the Americas

Abbreviation	OSA
Formation	1970
Legal status	Voluntary Association
Purpose	Awareness of Odia Language and Culture
Location	United States and Canada
Official language	Odia English
Website	www.odishasociety.org

Current status

Today, OSA is a strong organization with 1500 or more individual and family members. This is due to individuals stepping forward to support different activities with innovative ideas which, when implemented, benefit us all. The organization has now spread into thirteen regional chapters, which operate as a social umbrella for different regions in the US and Canada. The chapters arrange various activities such as religious festivals, social get together, cultural events and participate in the cultural life of the local community as representatives of Odia culture. Besides these, the annual convention is the centerpiece of the society's activities.

Vision

The society's vision is to promote and propagate Odia culture in Americas by bringing together all the people interested in Odisha.

Mission Goals

The mission goals of The Odisha Society of Americas are:

· To provide a mutually supportive environment for the better interaction of Odia immigrants of North American countries through socio-cultural growth, friendship and fellowship.

· To enhance the awareness of Odisha and Odia traditions in North America through cultural promotion, social events, and developmental activities.

· To facilitate the exchange of information between Odisha and the United States/Canada.

Chapters in USA & Canada

There are 14 chapters in USA and 1 chapter in Canada. A new chapter, California chapter is under formation.

Chapter Name	Chapter Serving Area	Formation Year
Chicago	Illinois, Wisconsin	NA
Georgia	Georgia	2020
Grand Canyon	Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico	2009
Maryland - Virginia	Maryland, Virginia	1995
Michigan	Michigan	1988
North West	Minnesota	1990
New England	Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire	1983
New York/New Jersey	New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania	1970 as OSANY 2005 as OSANYNJ
Ohio	Ohio	NA
Ozark (central)	Kansas, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri	NA
Pacific Northwest	Oregon, Washington, British Columbia & Neighboring States	2011
South East	North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia	NA
Southern	Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi. Alabama, Kentucky	NA
South-West	Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma	NA
Washington, DC	Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, Delaware, West Virginia	1984
Canada	Canada	1971

Events

OSA Convention

The annual convention of The Odisha Society of the Americas takes place during the July 4th weekend every year. The main responsibility of hosting the convention rests with the local chapters of OSA. At times when local chapters do not bid for the convention, Odia communities under the leadership of an OSA life member and with 15 or more OSA members do take charge of organizing the convention. The convention serves to bring together people with roots in Odisha to share the pride in Odia culture and heritage and pass it on to the next generation. The annual convention is the centerpiece of OSA's activities. The 52nd OSA convention was held from July 2 to 4, 2021 at the newly built Orissa Culture Center Venue, Houston, Texas. The 53rd OSA convention was held from July 1 to 3, 2022 in Sacramento, California.

Past/Future OSA Conventions

Year	Place
2023	Chicago, IL https://osanaconvention.org/
2022	Sacramento, CA https://osa2022.org/
2021	Houston, TX
2020	Virtual
2019	Atlantic City, New Jersey
2018	Detroit, Michigan
2017	Bahamas Cruise
2016	Providence, Rhode Island
2015	National Harbor, Maryland
2014	Columbus, Ohio
2013	Chicago, IL
2012	Seattle, WA
2011	Dallas, TX
2010	Redwood City, CA
2009	Trenton, New Jersey
2008	Toronto, ONT
2007	Detroit, MI
2006	Columbia, MD
2005	Newport Beach, CA
2004	Dallas, TX
2003	Princeton, NJ
2002	Greenbelt, MD
2001	Chicago, IL
1999	Toronto, Canada
1998	Monterey, CA
1997	Houston, TX
1996	Washington, DC
1995	Minneapolis, MN
1994	Pomona, NJ
1993	Troy, MI
1992	Atlanta, GA
1991	Chicago, IL
1990	Washington, DC
1989	Nashville, TN
1988	Saginaw, MI
1987	Stanford, CA
1986	Toronto, Canada
1985	Kent, OH
1984	Glassboro, NJ
1983	Bowie, MD
1982	Minneapolis, MN
1981	Chicago, IL
1980	Detroit, MI
1979	New Brunswick, NJ
1978	Wheaton, MD
1977	Riverdale, NJ
1976	Toronto, Canada
1975	Riverdale, NJ
1974	College Park, MD
1973	Riverdale, NJ
1972	Riverdale, NJ
1971	Hartford, CT
1970	Hartford, CT

OSA Regional Oriya Drama Festival

OSA Drama Festival started in 2009 for the first time. Dr Gopal Mohanty was the festival coordinator. The concept of regional drama festival went into effect during the month of April 2009 at 3 sites, Texas, Michigan and Washington DC. OSA is planning to continue the tradition in its present form or in an improved form (combining music and dances) for the future. OSA Southwest Chapter Drama Festival-2013 was held at Austin on 14 September 2013.

Year	Region	Drama	Chapter
2009	South-West Region	Athacha Chanakya(ଅଥଚ ଚାଣକ୍ୟ)	Dallas
		Sahitya Gadia Manthana(ସାହିତ୍ୟ ଗଡିଆ ମନ୍ଥନ )	Austin
		E ki Nataka(ଏ କି ନାଟକ )	Arkansas
		Mom, Ma Aau Madam(ମୋମ୍, ମା ଆଉ ମାଡାମ୍)	Houston
	Eastern Region	Gitinatya Sri Ganesha(ଗୀତିନାଟ୍ୟ ଶ୍ରୀ ଗଣେଶ)	DC
		Pathoi Bohu(ପାଠୋଇ ବୋହୁ)	DC
		Gua Nimantran(ଗୁଆ ନିମନ୍ତ୍ରଣ)	NY/New Jersey|NJ
	Northern Region	Banna Nasika(ବନ ନାଶିକ)	Canada
		Gitinatya Mahisa Mardini(ଗୀତିନାଟ୍ୟ ମହିଶା ମର୍ଦିନୀ)	MI
2010	South-West Region	Kalakara Natabara Babunkara Nata(କଳାକାର ନଟବର ବାବୁନକର ନାଟ)	Dallas
		Saur Jagatare Ulka Pata(ସୌର ଜଗତରେ ଉଲ୍କା ପାତ)	Arkansas
		Habani Na, Habana Aau(ହବନୀ ନା, ହବନା ଆଉ )	Houston
	Eastern Region	Kanchi Abhijan(କାଂଚୀ ଅଭିଯାନ)	OSNE Junior artists
		Dasanana: Naka Kata Upakhyana(ଦସାନନ : ନାକ କଟା ଉପାଖ୍ୟାନ)	NY/New Jersey|NJ
		Dinu Kaka Thiika Kahuthile(ଦିନୁ କାକା ଠିକ୍ କହୁଥିଲେ )	OSNE Senior artists
	North-Central Region	Uchit Charcha(ଉଚିତ୍ ଚର୍ଚା)	Milwaukee
		Gosein Mahatma(ଗୋସେଇଁ ମହାତ୍ମା)	Detroit
		Jaha Hale Hau(ଯାହା ହେଲେ ହଉ)	Unknown
2012	South-West Region	Bandhoo Mohanty	DFW Kids Drama
		Tahele Kie	Austin
		Item Girl	Houston
		Mayar Kahani	Austin Skit
		Paisaara Maayaa, Karuchhi Baayaa	Arkansas
		Akala Kusmanda	DFW

Publications

Odisha Society of Americas has been publishing souvenirs of its annual conventions from 1983. In 2019, all the editions were published in Amazon.com in print and Digital through Amazon.com, Google Play and Google Books.

Year	Edition	City	State	Google Play	Google Books	Amazon.com Print	Amazon.com Kindle Digital
1983	14	Washington	D.C.	[2]	[3]	[4]	https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RJVRXH1
1984	15	Glassboro	New Jersey	[5]	[6]	[7]	[8]
1985	16	Kent	Ohio	[9]	[10]	[11]	[12]
1986	17	Toronto	Canada	[13]	[14]	[15]	[16]
1987	18	Palo Alto	California	[17]	[18]	[19]	[20]
1988	19	Saginaw	Michigan	[21]	[22]	[23]	[24]
1989	20	Nashville	Tennessee	[25]	[26]	[27]	[28]
1990	21	Washington	D.C.	[29]	[30]	[31]	[32]
1991	22	Chicago	Illinois	[33]	[34]	[35]	[36]
1992	23	Atlanta	Georgia	[37]	[38]	[39]	[40]
1993	24	Detroit	Michigan	[41]	[42]	[43]	[44]
1994	25	Pamona	New Jersey	[45]	[46]	[47]	[48]
1995	26	Minneapolis	Minnesota	[49]	[50]	[51]	[52]
1996	27	Washington	D.C.	[53]	[54]	[55]	[56]
1997	28	Houston	Texas	[57]	[58]	[59]	[60]
1998	29	Monterey	California	[61]	[62]	[63]	[64]
1999	30	Toronto	Canada	[65]	[66]	[67]	[68]
2000	31	Nashville	Tennessee	[69]	[70]	[71]	[72]
2001	32	Chicago	Illinois	[73]	[74]	[75]	[76]
2002	33		Maryland	[77]	[78]	[79]	[80]
2003	34	Princeton	New Jersey	[81]	[82]	[83]	[84]
2004	35	Dallas	Texas	[85]	[86]	[87]	[88]
2005	36	Newport Beach	California	[89]	[90]	[91]	[92]
2006	37	Columbia	Maryland	[93]	[94]	[95]	[96]
2007	38	Detroit	Michigan	[97]	[98]	[99]	[100]
2008	39	Toronto	Canada	[101]	[102]	[103]	[104]
2009	40	Princeton	New Jersey	[105]	[106]	[107]	[108]
2010	41	San Francisco	California	[109]	[110]	[111]	[112]
2011	42	Dallas	Texas	[113]	[114]	[115]	[116]
2012	43	Seattle	Washington	[117]	[118]	[119]	[120]
2013	44	Chicago	Illinois	[121]	[122]	[123]	[124]
2014	45	Columbis	Ohio	[125]	[126]	[127]	[128]
2015	46	National Harbor	Washington	[129]	[130]	[131]	[132]
2016	47	Providence	Rhode Island	[133]	[134]	[135]	[136]
2017	48	Bahas Cruise	Bahamas	[137]	[138]	[139]	[140]
2018	49	Dearborn	Michigan	[141]	[142]	[143]	[144]
2019	50	Atlantic City	New Jersey	[145]	[146]	[147]	[148]

OSA History

OSA Golden Jubilee Convention created History Team. The History Team collected VHS, Hi8 and DVD media of past conventions and events. Founders and members were interviewed. YouTube channel and PlayLists were created.

Year	Description	Link to PlayList/Channel
1983	OSA 1983 Washington DC	[149]
1984	OSA 1984 Glassboro NJ	[150]
1986	OSA 1986 Toronto	[151]
1989	OSA 1989 Nashville TN	[152]
1990	OSA 1990 Washington	[153]
1995	OSA 1995 Minneapolis	[154]
1996	Converted Videos	[155]
1997	OSA 1997 Houston TX	[156]
1998	OSA 1998 Monterey California	[157]
1999	OSA 1999 Toronto	[158]
2000	OSA 2000 Nashville	[159]
2003	OSA 2003 Princeton NJ	[160]
2007	OSA 2007 Detroit	[161]
2007	OSA 2007 Detroit	[162]
2008	OSA 2008 Toronto	[163]
2009	OSA 2009 Trenton NJ	[164]
2011	Rathyatra	[165]
2014	OSA 2014 Ohio	[166]
2015	OSA 2015 Washington DC	[167]
2016	OSA2016 Rhode Island	[168]
2018	OSA 2018 Dearborn MI	[169]
2019	OSA 2019 Atlantic City NJ	[170]
2014-2018	OSA NY/NJ	[171]
2019	Converted Videos	[172]
2019	OSA History Video	[173]
2019	OSA 2019 Channel	[174]