Swagatika Rath marked her presence in oDiA music industry by recording her first Bhajan “Pade Khali Pacharibi Daru Thakura” under the direction of Bhikari Charan Bal in the year 1971. She made her oDiA film debut for Nalini Mohanty’s Para Apanaa (1978) in a duet with Sikandar Alam and Pranab Pattnaik but the same was not released. In the year 1979, Swagatika recorded her second song “Chanda Naa Tume Tara” for the film Chinhnaa Achinhnaa under the music direction of Basudev Rath where the song was a smash hit and recognized her as a playback singer. Again in the same film she had sung “Chai Chabeli Ranga Rangeli” which was recorded at Mumbai. Basudev was the composer who first gave Swagatika her own distinct identity. Then she rendered her voice for the film Jaya Maa Mangala (1979). In 1980, Swagatika sang all 6 songs of the film “Sita Laba-Kusha” under the composition of Prafilla Kar and her success streak continued with the movies, Gruha Laxmi, Anyaaya Sahibi Nahin, Pratisodha Aparadh Nuhen, Dasia Baauri, etc. She has rendered her voice almost in 10 oDiA Films and 30 albums including modern and devotional songs till date.

She sang her first modern song Mana Mo Nei Kahin Bhuligala in the year 1979. She is also credited as the singer of the first devotional album on Goddess Tarini Maa named “Tarini Bhajana Mala” (1987). Her next solo bhajana cassettes “Bhakti Puspa” and “Matru Bandanaa” were very much popular too.
Her recent Bhajan & Adhunik Cassette’s include: Jaga Adalat- “Jie Jete Papa Karucha Kara”, Akhandala Mani Bhajan, Smart Jhia Ti- “Sundari Se Pilata”, Chamma Chamma, Chilika Songs- “Musical descriptions of the Lake Chilika”

As a trained singer Swagatika is comfortable with all types of music including classical, semi-classical, Odissi, bhajanas and modern songs. Her high pitch singing techniques named her as the Lata Mangeshkar of oDiA music industry.