Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Union minister of state culture and tourism Prahlad Singh Patel to consider to confer classical status to Odishi music (vocal and instrumental).

Citing the richness of the Odishi music, Naveen said, “It has been recognised as one of the classical forms and stands eminent because of its characteristic bhangi, thani, lalitya, mudra etc., but ironically, Odishi music is yet to be recognised as a classical form of music at national level.”

He told Patel that the Heritage cabinet of Odisha in its meeting on September 2 decided to draw the Centre’s attention towards according classical status to the Odishi music.

“Kindly appreciate our heritage, the elegant and classical ments of Odishi music and to consider to confer classical status to Odishi music ( Vocal and Instrumental) to fulfil the long cherished dream of the music lover of Odisha and that of India,” Naveen said.

Naveen also reminded the minister that the Odishan music has, at least a tradition of 2000 years and is based on written Sastra and its own core Raga. It has a distinctive rendition style based on codified grammar, the characteristic giti system of classical texts and having its own tala, different from Hindustani and Karnatak music. No doubt Odishi music has all the requisite and exclusive characteristics to be recognized as a classical music.