Balangir district | |
|---|---|
 Harishankar Temple | |
.svg) Location in Odisha, India | |
| Coordinates:20°42′N83°30′E / 20.7°N 83.5°E /20.7; 83.5 | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Odisha |
| Headquarters | Balangir |
| Government | |
| • Collector & District Magistrate | Gaurav Shivaji Isalwar,IAS |
| • Divisional Forest Officer Cum Wildlife Warden | Nitish Kumar,IFS |
| • Superintendent of Police | Khilari Rishikesh Dyandeo,IPS |
| • Member of Parliament | Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, (BJP) |
| • Members of Legislative Assembly | Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, (BJD) |
| Area | |
• Total | 6,575 km2 (2,539 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 1,648,997 |
| • Density | 251/km2 (650/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Odia,English |
| • Local | Sambalpuri |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 767001 |
| Telephone code | 06652 |
| Vehicle registration | OD-03 |
| Sex ratio | 0.983♂/♀ |
| Literacy | 65.50% |
| Lok Sabha constituency | Balangir |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | 5
|
| Climate | Aw(Köppen) |
| Precipitation | 1,443.5 millimetres (56.83 in) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 48.7 °C (119.7 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) |
| Website | www |
| This article is part ofa series on |
| Odisha |
|---|
 |
| Governance |
| Topics |
| Districts Subdivisions |
| GI Products |
| India portal |
Balangir district, also calledBolangir district, is adistrict situated inOdisha state of India. The district has an area of 6,575 km2 (2,539 sq mi), and a population of 1,648,997 (2011 census). The town ofBalangir is the district headquarters. The composition of the land is predominantly rural. Other important towns in Balangir district areTitlagarh,Patnagarh,Kantabanji,Loisingha,Saintala, Belpada, Tushra,Agalpur, Deogaon, Chudapali,Biripali, Bhalumunda, Bangomunda, Sindhekela, Kansil, Turekela and Muribahal.
The district of Balangir is named after the headquarters town of Balangir. This town was also the headquarters of the feudatory state ofPatna since the 1880s. The district of Balangir is flanked in the northwest by theGandhamardhan hills. Many hill streams traverse it. It is also notable for having experimented in therepublican form of Government that was overthrown by Ramai Deo.
Historically It's a region ofKalinga, which is ruled by various dynasties likeMahameghavahana dynasty,Bhauma-Kara dynasty,Somavamshi dynasty,Kalachuri Dynasty (during this time its become a part ofDakshina Kosala for short period),Eastern Ganga dynasty,Gajapati Empire & Chauhan over centuries.
The territory comprising the present district of Balangir was in ancient times a part of theSouth Kosala[citation needed]. According to tradition, the origin of South Kosala dates back to the time ofRama and scholars like Pargiter believe that Rama's long stay in that region gave rise to the name of South Kosala after his original homeland Kosala. According to Padmapurana, the kingdom of Kosala, after Rama, was divided between Lava and Kusa, his two son. Later Kusa founded the city of Kusasthalipura and ruled over the southern half of Kosala (that included modern dayWestern Odisha andChhattisgarh State)[citation needed].
During the time of GrammarianPanini (5th Century B.C), a territory named TaitilaJanapada flourished to the west of Kalinga and that territory has been associated by historians with the modern town ofTitlagarh in Balangir district. Taitala Janapada was famous for trade in some commodities described by the Grammarian as "Kadru" the meaning of which may be either horse or cotton fabrics.[2]
According toChetiya Jataka, the capital of theChedi country was Sothivatinagara which is the same as Suktimatipuri ofHarivamsa and Suktisahvaya of theMahabharata (Vana Parva). The epic (Adi Parva) also states that the capital of the Chedis was situated on the bank of river Suktimati which is the Sukhtel river of Balangir district[3]
Thus the ancestors of King of KalingaKharavela were from the Balangir district as they were ruling over the territory drained by the Sukhtel river in Balangir, wherefrom they advanced towards the east and became the master of Kalinga by the first century B.C. In theHathigumpha inscription, Kharavela refers to one Rajashri Vasu as his ancestor, who is probably the same as Vasu, the son of Abhichandra, the founder of Chedi Kingdom. This Vasu may also be identified with Uparichara Vasu of the Mahabharata (Adi Parva) where hs is described as the King of the Chedis who were ruling in the modern district of Balangir and Subarnapur.[4]
Balangir region continued to be under the rule of Chedis during the first century AD but in the second century it came under the possession of the Satavahanas, whose king was Gautamiputra Satakarni. He is said to have built a magnificent vihara for his philosopher friend Nagarjuna on thePo Lo Mo Lo Ki Li or Parimalagir identified with the modern Gandharmardan hills.
The earliest noted history of Balangir district dates back to the third century BC. According toBhagavati Sutra andHarivamsha Purana, Mahavir started his earliest preaching ofDharma at Nalanda, Rajgriha, Paniya Bhumi and Siddharthagrama. According to some scholars, (D. C. Sircar) Punita Bhumi is a synonym of Paniya Bhumi as perOdra-Magadhi language. It is the same as Paniya Bhumi or Nagoloka, the present Nagpur, and it is further identified as Bhogapura, the modern Bastar, region ofChhattisgarh,Koraput,Kalahandi and Balangir district ofOdisha.[5]
In some of the inscriptions found in Balangir and Sonepur district, it has been mentioned that this part of the land was known as Attavika duringAshoka's invasion ofKalinga in 261 B.C.
The Chinese pilgrimXuanzang visitedPo Lo Mo Lo Ki Li monastery at modern Paikmal in the seventh century AD. It was then having cloisters and lofty halls and those halls were arranged in five tiers each with four courts with temples containing life-size gold images ofBuddha[6]
Utkal University Archaeology Prof. Dr. Sadasiva Pradhan excavated the Gumagad site under Gudvela block near the Tel river valley in Balangir district, where he found that a strategic military hub existed in the first century BC.[7] It was set up by a king contemporary to king Kharavela. Four copper plates were also found at Terssingha village which speaks of the Tel valley civilisation. Those plates had information regarding the two capitals – Udayapur and Parbatadwaraka – which were under the rule of Rashtrakutas and local chieftains belonging to different clans. The Udayapur area, the capital of Rashtrakuta kings, who ruled in the valley, still does have standing structures and also the ruins. These are mostly found at Amathgad. Ruins of a medieval fort is also found there.[8]
According to eminent historian and epigraphist Sadananda Agrawal, copper plates were recently found in Kapsila village near Balangir. The found materials were three copper plates tied together by a circular ring and issued by a king named Khadgasimha. It has been dated to the eighth century AD and it informs about new rulers and history of the Tel valley civilization.[9]
The chronology of various dynasty who ruled Balangir over the time.
Ranipur-Jharial in Balangir district is another place of historical importance. According to historians this area was known for its Tantra-Vidya throughout India.Somavanshi kings had built many temples here that can be dated back to the eighth-ninth centuries AD. It is said that there were at least 200 temples covering an area of about half a mile in length and a quarter of a mile in width. The largest stone temple is Someswar Siva, which was constructed by a Mattamayura Shaivacharya Gagana Siva whose inscription can be found on the lintel of the temple.
Ranipur-Jharial houses one among the five existing rare monuments of Hypaethral temples (temples without roofs) dedicated to 64 yoginis in India. The other three are at Hirapur near Bhubaneswar, Khajurao & Bheraghat near Jabalpur, and Dudhai near Lalitpur. The images at Ranipur-Jharial are made of sandstone. The temple of 64 yoginis of Ranipur-Jharial is famous not only for its architecture, but also for its religious significance. Three-faced Natraj Shiva idol stands at the centre of the temple encircled by 64 sculptures of the Yogini goddesses in various positions. Unfortunately with the curse of time, and also due to lack of care only 48 Yoginis are left by now.[10]
Ramai Deo founded the kingdom of Patna in 1360 AD, and within a short span of its aggressive career become the head of the cluster of eighteen Garhs. The Patna kingdom stretched from Raigarh in Chhattisgarh to Bamra in Sundergarh District.
Balaram Deo, the 19th Raja ofPatna, founded a town called Balramgarh and shifted the capital of Patna state fromPatnagarh to Balramgarh in the early 16th century. Subsequently, the town was renamed as Balangir from Balramgarh. After around 8 years of rule in Patna state, he was awarded the land from river Ang until the boundary of Bamra kingdom by his mother. Subsequently, he founded a kingdom namedSambalpur, which went on to become a strong kingdom.[11]List of Chouhan rulers of the Patna state[12][13]
Below is the list of eighteen Garhs (with their old names) which were part of the old Patna State (Balangir) and Sambalpur State during the Chouhan rule. Also known as the Garhjat States.
Though now Balangir is one of the most under-developed districts inOdisha, it was not the same before its merger with Odisha. Ex-Patna State was one of the earliest states in India to have started industries as early as the end of the 17th century.
Below is the list of industries that existed in the area during the pre-merger period.[11]
TheChauhan rule ended with the merger of Patna and Sonepur intoOrissa on the January 1, 1948. They together form the district of Balangir.Sonepur was carved out as a separate district on April 1, 1993. The last ruler of Patna, Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo successfully transitioned to democratic politics. He became theChief Minister of Odisha from 1967 until 1971.
Currently people of this district along with the nine other districts of westernOdisha are demanding for a separate state called Koshal. According to unofficial sources around 20,000 people are migrating from Balangir every year to other states in search of work. More than 90% population in this district are staying below poverty line.
There is an Ordnance Factory of theOrdnance Factories Board which manufactures products for theIndian Armed Forces.
Overall this western district of Odisha needs quick improvement to catch up with the other parts of the state and country. The government needs to take care of special responsibility towards the development like construction of roads, buildings, education to the people, developments like railway and air connectivity. For instance the nearest airport from any part of the district is Bhubaneswar, Raipur or Visakhapatnam which are minimum 7 hours journey from Balangir. Also the standard of living of the people needs to be improved by providing the minimum requirements to the people by providing jobs to them so that migration of the people from this part to other parts of the country could be avoided. At the same time, social menaces like dowry killing, and unsocial activities like theft, burglary and murder could be kept in control.
On May 13, 2010, Annual Credit Plan for the year 2010-2011 was launched with a projected plan outlay of Rs. 309.97 crores. Special programmes are envisaged to arrest the flow of labour to other states in search of work, popularly known asDadan Shramik.
Show zoomed in
Show zoomed mid
Show zoomed outThe district of Balangir is flanked in the north-west by the Gandhamardan hills, a name of the Ramayana Fame, and in the north-east by the rocky Mahanadi valley. It is traversed by many hill streams and is interspersed with the evergreen woodlands, the shelter of Bison and Sambar. The main forest area stretches along the western boundary bordering theNuapada,Kalahandi district and then turns to the east running parallel to the Gandhamardan range. This forest track is broken by occasional clearings and small settlements, but it mostly consists of thick vegetation in which bamboo of excellent quality grows and Sal, Sahaj, Piasal, Dhaura and Ebony form the principal timber. The crest of the range of Gandhamardan hills is fine plateau, some ten miles long, with an average height of 3000 feet. For most part of this district lies on the north-west bank of river Tel, which form the boundary between his district and the district ofKalahandi,Sonepur,Boudh andKandhamal.
In 2006 theMinistry of Panchayati Raj named Balangir one of the country's 250most backward districts (out of a total of640).[14] It is one of the 19 districts inOdisha currently receiving funds from theBackward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[14]
Bolangir District has been divided into 3 Sub-Divisions and 14 Blocks. There are 285 Gram Panchayat with 1,794 Villages (Inhabited 1764, Uninhabited 30) in the District.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 329,894 | — |
| 1911 | 460,187 | +39.5% |
| 1921 | 531,520 | +15.5% |
| 1931 | 593,160 | +11.6% |
| 1941 | 642,508 | +8.3% |
| 1951 | 676,462 | +5.3% |
| 1961 | 794,171 | +17.4% |
| 1971 | 941,079 | +18.5% |
| 1981 | 1,061,727 | +12.8% |
| 1991 | 1,230,938 | +15.9% |
| 2001 | 1,337,194 | +8.6% |
| 2011 | 1,648,997 | +23.3% |
| Source: Census of India[15] | ||
| Religion | Percent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hinduism | 98.13% | |||
| Christianity | 0.99% | |||
| Islam | 0.47% | |||
| Other or not stated | 0.41% | |||
According to the2011 census Balangir district has apopulation of 1,648,997,[1] roughly equal to the nation ofGuinea-Bissau[17] or the US state ofIdaho.[18] This gives it a ranking of 302nd in India (out of a total of640).[1] The district has a literacy rate of 65.5%. 11.97% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 17.88% and 21.05% of the population[1]
At the time of the2011 Census of India, 77.98% of the population in the district spokeOdia, 20.30%Sambalpuri, and 1.07%Hindi as their first language.[19]
TheGandas are the largest SC community, having over 2 lakhs population. The next largest isDewar with c. 45,000, thenDhobi and Ghasi. These four castes combined are over 90% of the total Scheduled Caste population in the district.
There are around 31 scheduled tribes in the district. TheGonds are the largest tribe with 1,08,000 population. TheKhonds are the second largest with 90,000. The other major tribes areSaora, Binjhwar, Dal andShabar. These six tribes combined make up 93% of the tribal population in the district.
For details see the articleKosal.
The Playful child of this area composes verses of “Chhiollai”, “Humobauli” and “Dauligit”, the fleeting adolescence composes “Sajani”, “Chhata”, “Daika”, “Bhekani” : the eternal youth composes “Rasarkeli”, “Jaiphul”, “Maila Jada”, “Bayamana”, “Gunchikuta” and “Dalkhai”. The man who worship work, composes “Karma” and “Jhumer” invigorating Lord Vishwakarma and the “Karamashani” goddess. In every type of situation, in work or at rest; while ploughing, transplanting, husking, threshing, beating, driving bullock cart or boat, grazing cattle, worshipping deities and gods, performing marriages and social functions-there are songs and dances for everybody. The professional entertainers perform Dand, Danggada, Mudgada, Ghumra, Sadhana, Sabar – Sabaren, Disdigo, Nachina – Bajnia, Samparda and Sanchar. They are for all occasions, for all time with varieties of rhythm and rhyme. Most of these folk dances are accompanied by music and songs.
Sital Sasthi: It is the marriage ceremony of Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati. The festival is observed in the month of June with pomp and ceremony at Balangir and is extended for a week. Pilgrims from the neighboring districts and States of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar also participate in the festival. Lakhs of people congregate in this week long festival, mostly in the month of June every year.
Nuakhai:This is the most important social festival of Balangir as well as of whole westernOdisha. Generally it takes place during the month of August and September. Preliminary preparation of the festival starts 15 days before the occasion. The first grains of the paddy crop, cooked into various dishes are offered to the deities. There after the eldest member of the family distributes new rice to the junior members of the family. All the household articles are cleaned. People greet each other. It is a community festival celebrated by every Hindu family low and high. Moreover, Nuakhai is the mass festival of the entire west of Odisha (Pasayat 2008: 253–262).during this festival all the member of family they come to home & celebrate the festival of Nuakhai together.
Bhaijuntia: It is mostly known only in the region of westernOdisha. Bhaijiutia festival is celebrated on the Mahastami Day of Durga Puja. It is a total fasting undertaken by women for the whole day and night to seek Goddess Durga's blessing for the long life of their bhais (brothers).
Puajiuntia:It is another fasting Puja of similar austerity for women of the area. The Puajiuntia festival is observed by mothers to invoke the grace of Lord Dutibahana for the long life and prosperity of their sons.
Besides the above listed festivals, other religious festivals are observed. These include Shiva Ratri, Dola Jatra, Durga Puja, Janmastami, Dipavali, Ganesh Puja and Saraswati Puja.
Shiva Ratri Mela at Huma and Titilagarh attracts a large numbers of devotees. Ratha Jatra is held at almost all central places of Balangir. There are other jatras like theSulia Jatra and Patakhanda Jatra in Jarasingha etc. are held with great flavour.
Shrabana Purnima - During this time devotees of Lord Shiva travel long distance by walk to places like Harishankar, Belkhandi near Titilagarh to pray and offer the holy water to the god. People from other parts outside state like Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh also takes part in such event.
The most popular festivals celebrated by Muslims are Id-Ul-Fitre, Id-Ul-Juha and Muharram. The Sikhs also celebrate the Birth Day ofGuru Nanak.
During medieval period some Brahmin settlements developed under the patronage of the Somavamsi Kings. Important among these centres are Vineetapura (Modern Binka), Suvarnapura (Modern Sonepur), Royara (Modern Rohila), Ranipur, Jharial etc. These places as known from copper plate records and other archeological finds, were important center of culture during the medieval period. During the rule of the Chauhan Kings, Sanskrit education was greatly encouraged. King Vaijal Deo, one of the early Chauhan rulers of Patna state has compiled an admirable lexicon, known as Vaijal Chandrika ( also known as Prabodh Chandrika)
The spread of education was not very remarkable in Balangir district during the 18th and 19th century. Wandering teachers called Abadhanas were holding primary classes in towns and villages where they were teaching only reading, writing and arithmetic. The village Pathsalas were maintained by villagers where the Abadhanas were being engaged for teaching. Western education came to the district towards the end of the 19th century AD. It was in 1894 that an English School was started in Balangir Town by the then Maharaja Ramachandra and English education was introduced.
During India's independence Balangir district had 39 High Schools for boys and 4 for girls and 119 Middle English Schools including 11 for girls. The total number of boys and girls in Secondary schools was 11,906 and 1,550 respectively.
Government Medical College established in the year 2008
The following is the 5Vidhan sabha constituencies[20][21] of Balangir district and the elected members[22] of that area
| No. | Constituency | Reservation | Extent of the Assembly Constituency (Blocks) | Member of 17th Assembly | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | Loisingha | SC | Loisingha, Agalpur, Puintala | Dr.Mukesh Mahaling | BJP |
| 67 | Patnagarh | None | Patnagarh (NAC), Patnagarh, Khaprakhol, Belpara | K.V. Singh Deo | BJP |
| 68 | Balangir | None | Balangir (M), Balangir, Deogaon, | Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo | BJD |
| 69 | Titlagarh | None | Titilagarh (NAC), Titilagarh, Saintala, Tentulikhunti (Gudvella) | Nabin Kumar Jain | BJP |
| 70 | Kantabanji | None | Kantabanji (NAC), Turkela,Bangomunda, Muribahal | Laxman Bag | BJP |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Guinea-Bissau 1,596,677 July 2011 est.
Idaho 1,567,582
MEMBER NAME
Places adjacent to Balangir district | |
|---|---|
Capital:Bhubaneswar | |||||||
| State symbols |  | ||||||
| Governance | |||||||
| History | |||||||
| Geography | |||||||
| Districts by division |
| ||||||
| Cities | |||||||
| GI products | |||||||
| Topics | |||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
.png)
