Oriya (ଓଡ଼ିଆ) is one of the Indian languages mainly spoken in the Indian state of Orissa, though there are also significant Oriya-speaking populations in other linguistic regions, Surat being the second largest Oriya speaking city in India. The language is also an official language of India. It is actually pronounced as ODIA. Oriya is an Indo-Aryan language and is thought to be directly descended from the Prakrit known as Purva Magadhi that was spoken in Eastern India over 1,500 years ago. It bears a very strong resemblance to the modern languages, Bangla (Bengali) and Ahomiya (Assamese).