Nila shaila basi, mo nayanara phula, Dekhibaku mana mora aja bahu chula. Odi re prabhu, odi re thakura, odi.

Jai Jagannath.

Bhai re balabhadra, bhagini subhadra, Sunile na ki mo ei udasa bachana? Odi re prabhu, odi re thakura, odi.

For millions of devotees of Lord Jagannath, particularly in the Indian state of Odisha, the hymn “Odi Odi Utkalantha” is not just a song—it is a divine cry. It captures the deep emotional bond between the devotee and the deity, painting a vivid picture of homesickness, separation, and ultimate reunion.

This article provides the complete English transliteration of the lyrics, along with the meaning and the rich spiritual context behind this beloved prayer. “Odi Odi Utkalantha” (sometimes spelled Odia Odia Utkalantha ) is traditionally attributed to the Gita Govinda tradition or the devotional Janana (wisdom song) genre of Odisha. However, its most popular association is with a specific ritual at the Jagannath Temple in Puri .

Legend says the song describes the mood of Lord Jagannath himself during the Hera Panchami ritual of the (Chariot Festival). After the three deities—Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra—travel from the Main Temple to the Gundicha Temple (their "aunt's home"), Lord Jagannath grows homesick for his beloved abode, the Nilachala (the Blue Mountain of Puri).

(Note: Slight variations exist in different temple traditions and family recitations.) To truly appreciate the song, one must understand the intense emotion of viraha (separation) embedded in the words.