Orissa ia a state of India, one of the musical centers of the subcontinent. Travelling bards are a historic part of the country's heritage. In the 11th century, Odissi folk music was codified into a classical style, related to other styles of Indian classical music. Though it has been claimed that the Odissi tradition was a separate style of classical music, it is more commonly said to be a kind of Hindustani music.