Balangir district General information
Coordinates: [show location on an interactive map] 20°25'N 83°18'E? / ?20.42°N 83.30°E? / 20.42; 83.30 Balangir District, also called Bolangir District, is a district in the western part of Orissa, India. The district has an area of 5,165 km², and a population of 1,335,760 (2001 census). The town of Balangir is the district headquarters. The composition of the land is predominantly rural.
History
The district of Balangir is named after the headquarters towns of Balangir. This town was also the headquarters of the feudatory state of Patna, since the eighties of the nineteenth century. Balaram Deo, the brother of Narasimha Deo, the 12th Raja of Patna, established Balangir. As Balaram Deo is known to have flourished about the middle of 16th century, the origin of the town of Balangir has also been attributed to that period. It is said that the town being founded by Balaram Deo was named after him as Balaramgarh, from which the present name Balangir has been derived. There is however no recorded evidence to support this theory. The district of Balangir is flanked in the North-west by the Gandhamardan hill, and in the north-east by the rock-infested Mahanadi. Many hill streams traverse it. It is the land of Tantrik culture. It is also notable for having experimented in the republican form of Government that was overthrown by Ramai Deo. Ramai founded the kingdom of Patna in the 14th century, which within a short span of its militant career become the head of the cluster of eighteen Garhs. The Chauhan rule ended with the merger of the state of Patna and Sonepur with Orissa on the 1st January, 1948. They together from the district of Balangir. Sonepur was carved out as a separate district on 1.4.1993.
Geography
The district has three revenue sub-divisions, namely, Balangir, Titilagarh and Patanagarh. Sonepur, which was previously a sub-division of Balangir has become a district now.
Balangir is famous for its natural beauty and the tribals. Harishankar, situated 80 km from Balangir town is one of them. There is an ordinance factory near a small town named Saintala. Titlagarh is a subdivision in the district where the second highest temperature in India was recorded. The important archaeological and tourist sites are Ranipur-Jharial, Ghodar-Sihini, Titilagarh, Saintala, Sindhekela (worship of Shakti in the primitive form of a stone Yoni), Sauntpur, Patanagarh, Surda, and Harishankar.
Festival
Sital Sasthi: It is the Marriage Ceremony of Lord Shiva with Goddess 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 western orissa. 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.
Bhaijuntia: It is mostly known only in the region of Western Orissa. 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 the sulia 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 Chhatisgarh 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 of Guru Nanak.
Temple
RANIPUR JHARIAL: There are extensive ruins of medieval monuments at Ranipur Jharial. There is an out-crop of flat rocks on which large number of temples are perched. The out-crop forms a gently rising elevation of about 200 feet at its highest point. In ancient times about 120 temples were in existence on the spot near the bank of the tank. At present hardly 50 temples could be counted and most of them are found in decaying condition. The largest temple of the group is that of someswara Siva Temple.
SOMESWARA SIVA TEMPLE : It was constructed by a famous Saiva Acharya named Gagana Siva whose inscription is found on the itat of of the temple. The period of construction of someswara Siva temple at Ranipur Jharial was the middle of the 9th century A.D.
TEMPLE OF 64 YOGINIES : The temple of 64 Yoginis of the place is of great interest not only from the stand point of antiquity but also for its religious significance. This is a temple with niches to enshrine 64 yoginis. In the middle there is a figure of three-face Shiva embracing Parvati. Period- 9th century A.D.
INDRALAT TEMPLE : Important monument of Ranipur Jharial is the brick temple dedicated to Vishnu. The present height of it is nearly 60 feets. The temple stands on a platform made a stand-stone. The presiding deity of the temple is not found at present, but the images of Varaha, Narasimha and Hanuman are still to be seen on the outer wells of the sVimana.
CHANDI TEMPLE AT SAINTALA : Saintala village is notable for the old chandi temple, which is now in ruins. The Goddess who is a form of Mahishamardini Durga has not been installed on the mound formed by the ruins of her former temple. The temple has been attributed to the 9th century.
SOMESWARE TEMPLE AT PATNAGARH: Someswar ascribed to king Someswar-II of the 12th century A.D.
PATANESWARI TEMPLE AT PATNAGARH: Pataneswari ascribed to Ramai Deo the first Chauhan king belonging to the 14th century A.D.
JOGESWAR SIVA TEMPLE AT JOGISARDA: It is situated in the village Jogisarda in Loisingha Police Station, four miles from Loisingha. Jogeswar Siva is widely renowned not only in Balangir district but also in the neighboring district of Sambalpur and devotees come here in large number to practice penance by fasting days together and lying prostrate on the floor of the temple with the hope of getting boons. The temple was the work of former Zamidars of Loisingha.
HARISANKAR: A place of pilgrimage on the southern slop of the Gandhamardan hills, which stand along Balangir- Sambalpur border, Harisankar has the additional charm of being a place of uncommon natural beauty, with a high range of hills as a background forest clad surrounding, some perennial springs and successive water falls. The main temple of Harisankar dedicated to Siva. Period- 14th century A.D.
Tourist Place
PATNAGARH: The ancient capital of the kingdom of Patna, Patnagarh combines in happy synthesis its mythic past with the modern present. The temples of Patmeswari in Chalukyan style and that of Someswar Siva belonging to the 12 th Century are the monuments of prominence. One can find here the reminiscence of the earliest group of temples build during the Chauhan rule in Western part of Orissa. Distance 40 km from District HQ Communication Road Nearest Railway station Balangir Lodging and Boarding Patnagarh/Balangir
RANIPUR-JHARIAL: Ranipur Jharial is known as "Soma Tirtha" in scriptures. It combines a section of religious faiths like Saivism, Buddhism, Vaisnavism and Tantrism. The circular open vault enclosure of sixty-four yoginis, the major attraction of the place, is one of the four such shrines in India. The temple of Someswar Siva is the noted one among a plethora of about 50 temples here. The majestic brick temple of Indralath is said to be the highest brick temple of Orissa. Distance 100 km from Dist. HQ Communication Road Rail - Nearest station- Kantabanji Lodging and Boarding Kantabanji
SAINTALA: Saintala is noted for its Chandi temple which is now in ruins. Goddess Chandi in Mahisamardini form is presently installed in a small mound. The Dasavatara (Ten incarnations) image of Lord Vishnu and Broken door jamb with figures of Ganga and Yamuna are among the remarkable places of sculpture un-earthen here. Distance 40 km from Dist. HQ Communication Road Rail - Nearest station- Saintala Lodging and Boarding Balangir
JOGISARDA: 25 km from Balangir and 7 km from Loisingha, Jogisarda is noted for the Jogeswar Shiva Temple
TUREKELA: (98 km):- A place suitable for group camping, Turekela is important for viewing colorful wild life, like Tigers, Dear, Bears, Monkeys etc. The chirping birds perched on trees are a thrill to the searching eyes. Distance 98 km from Dist. HQ Communication Road Rail - Nearest station- Titilagarh Lodging and Boarding Titilagarh/Balangir
BELPARA: (62KM from Balangir):- Belpara is one of the main town of Bolangir Dist.It is a beautiful town among Balangir.Belpara is famous for "RATHA YATRA","DURGA PUJA","LAXMI PUJA","GIRIGOBARDHAN PUJA" and "BISWAKARMAPUJA". There are some beautiful temples in Belpara & also in near to it.
CHUDAPALI: this is a small and beautiful place between balangir and patnagarh. It is famous for its local haat's or market
HARISHANKAR:Full of natural beauty. Hari-Shankar Tample where lord shiva and Lord Bishnu are worshiped togeather.A natural spring of water appends to the beauty of Harishankar.A Trecking trip can be realised there. Also taking bath in the Khasada Pathar(Sloppy Stone) is really exciting.A perfect picnic spot.