Puri district
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(September 2022) |
Puri district | |
|---|---|
 Location in Odisha | |
| Coordinates:19°48′58″N85°49′59″E/ 19.816°N 85.833°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State |  Odisha |
| Headquarters | Puri |
| Government | |
| •Collector & District Magistrate | Siddhartha Sankara Swain,IAS |
| •Superintendent of Police | Pinaka Misra,IPS |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,479 km2(1,343 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 1,698,730 |
| • Density | 490/km2(1,300/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Odia,English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30(IST) |
| PIN | 752 xxx |
| Vehicle registration | OD-13 |
| Coastline | 150.4 kilometres (93.5 mi) |
| Nearest city | Bhubaneswar |
| Sex ratio | 1.032♂/♀ |
| Literacy | 85.37% |
| Lok Sabhaconstituency | Puri Jagatsinhapur |
| Vidhan Sabhaconstituency | 6
|
| Climate | Aw(Köppen) |
| Avg. summer temperature | 37 °C (99 °F) |
| Avg. winter temperature | 13.9 °C (57.0 °F) |
| Website | www |
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Puri districtis a coastal district of theOdishastate ofIndia.It has onesub-division,11tahasilsand 11blocksand comprises 1722 revenue villages.Puriis the onlymunicipalityof the district.Konark,Pipili,Satyabadi,Gop,KakatpurandNimapadaare theNACsin this district whileBrahmagiribeing a semi-urban town.
Name[edit]
The district is named after its capital city,Puri.InSanskrit,the word "Puri" means town or city. The city is an important seat ofVaishnavism,and is home to the notedJagannath Templebuilt byAnantavarman Chodagangain the mid 12th century CE.[2]
History[edit]
Pre-history[edit]
Like many other parts ofOdisha,the Puri district containsPleistoceneriver gravels and silts. So far, no prehistoric stone tools have been found in this region, although they are found in similar formations (river gravels, secondarylateritepits and murrams) in the nearby districts ofDhenkanal,Mayurbhanj,KendujharandSundergarh.
Early records[edit]
In the dramatic poemAnargharāghava,believed to date from approximately the 9th century CE, the town of Puri was called Purusottama. The name of the town is given as Purusottama Kshetra in the records ofAnangabhima Deva IIIfrom the 13th century CE. The town was given this name, or Purusottama Chhatar or simply Chhatar, in the records of theMughal Empire,theMaratha Empire,and the early British rulers. In theYogini Tantraand theKalika Puranathe town is referred to as Purusottam, and the Puri region was known asUtkal.
Purusottama Kshetra became referred to as Purusottama Puri, then contracted into Kshetra or Chhatra, or simply Puri. In many earlyBritishrecords this town is known by the name Pooree.
History of the District as an administrative unit[edit]
Under Mughal Rule (1592–1751),Odishawas divided into three circars for the purpose of revenue administration, Jaleswar, Bhadrak and Kataka. Current-day Puri was part of Kataka circar. After the Marathas occupied Odisha in 1751, they divided Odisha into the Pipli, Kataka, Soro and Balasore chakalas. The chakala of Pipli included major portions of the modern district of Puri.
After the conquest of Odisha by the British in 1803, the province was divided into the Northern and Southern Divisions with the river Mahanadi forming the boundary. Robert Ker and Charles Groeme were appointed as judge, magistrate, and collector in Northern and Southern Divisions respectively. By 1805 both divisions were amalgamated; Groeme was replaced, and Ker became the judge and magistrate of the whole province. By 1818 the Office of the Commissioner was established and Robert Ker became the first commissioner.
In October 1828, the province was divided into three districts, Balasore, Cuttack and Jagannath, which was later renamed Puri. In 1912, the new province ofBihar and Orissawas formed, including these three districts.Orissa(now Odisha) became a separate province in 1936 and was merged with the states of Nayagarh, Daspalla, Khandapara and Ranapur in 1948. A separate sub-division comprising these ex-states was added to Puri district, with headquarters at Nayagarh. Bhubaneswar was merged with the district in 1959. At this point the district comprised four sub-divisions: Puri Sadar, Khurdha, Bhubaneswar and Nayagarh.
By 1995, the area previously known as the Puri district was divided into three new districts:
- Nayagarh district,comprising the old Nayagarh sub-division;
- Khordha district,comprising the old Khuradha and Bhubaneswar sub-divisions; and
- Puri district, comprising the old Puri Sadar sub-division.
Geography[edit]
The Puri district lies around the latitudes 19° and longitudes 84°29'E. It has a geographical area of 3051 km2or 264988 Ha. It has varied geographical and geological divisions defined by rock types, soil, vegetation, water bodies and climate. The primary geological division is between the littoral tract and the level alluvial tract.
i) The littoral tract:This strip of the country lies between the level alluvial tract and theBay of Bengal.Strong monsoon currents blow over the country for nearly 8 months of the year, producing sandy ridges parallel to the coast, varying from 6.5 km to a few hundred metres in width. These ridges stretch along the seashore for the full length of the sea coast, approximately150 km long. The littoral tract forms the dividing line between theChilika Lakeand the ocean.
ii) The level alluvial tract:The alluvial region is full of villages andrice fields,watered by a network of channels, through which the distributaries of the most southerly branch of theMahanadiriver find their way to the sea.
River system[edit]
The rivers of Puri district are generally tributaries of theMahanadiriver. They are largely dry or small streams in the hot season, while in the rains they receive more water than they can carry. Major rivers include:
1)Kushabhadra River:A branch of theKuakhai Riveroriginates from Balianta and meets the Bay of Bengal at the shrine of Ramachandi, located 15 miles east ofPuri.Its tributary Mugei joins with Kushabhadra.
2)Daya River:A branch of the Kuakhai river drains into theChilikalake. Two small rivers, the Gangua and the Managuni, join with the Daya river below Kanas. The Daya river is believed to be the cause of silt build-up in Chilika Lake.
3)Bhargavi River:A branch of the Kuakhai river meets the Bay of Bengal after breaking up into numerous tributaries in the last two and a half miles of its course. Four main branches, the Kanchi, the East Kania, the Naya Nadi and the South Kanchi (which drains into Sar Lake) all derive from the left bank of the Kuakhai. The first three of these interconnect through several channels and finally join the Suna Munhi river, which in turn joins the Baliharchandi and ultimately drains to the Bay of Bengal via the mouth of Chilika. The South Kania dissipates in the marshes on the western shore of Chilika.
4)Kadua River:This is amonsoonfed river that drains into thePrachi River.
5)Prachi River:This river has its origin near Kantapara on Cuttack-Gop road and passes through theKakatpurbefore draining into the Bay of Bengal.
6)Devi River:This is a branch of theKathajodi River.
Beaches[edit]
Notable beaches include: Puri Beach; the Golden Beach; Beleswar Beach; Swargadwar Beach; Balighai Beach; and the Chandrabhaga Sea Astaranga beach.
Demographics[edit]
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1901 | 527,283 | — |
| 1911 | 537,636 | +0.19% |
| 1921 | 483,649 | −1.05% |
| 1931 | 535,934 | +1.03% |
| 1941 | 579,192 | +0.78% |
| 1951 | 625,148 | +0.77% |
| 1961 | 736,118 | +1.65% |
| 1971 | 903,807 | +2.07% |
| 1981 | 1,105,471 | +2.03% |
| 1991 | 1,305,365 | +1.68% |
| 2001 | 1,502,682 | +1.42% |
| 2011 | 1,698,730 | +1.23% |
| source:[3] | ||
According to the2011 censusPuri district had apopulationof 1,698,730,[1]roughly equal to the nation ofGuinea-Bissau[5]or the US state ofIdaho.[6]This gives it a ranking of the 291st most populous district in India (out of a total of640).[1]The district has a population density of 488 inhabitants per square kilometre (1,260/sq mi).[1]Itspopulation growth rateover the decade 2001-2011 was 13%.[1]The ratio offemalesto males was 963:1000.[1]Theliteracy ratewas 85.37%. 15.60% of the population lives in urban areas. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes make up 19.14% and 0.36% of the population respectively.[1]
At the time of the 2011 census, 95.09% of the population spokeOdia,2.36%Urduand 1.92%Teluguas their first language.[7]
Culture and tradition[edit]
Puri's recorded history dates from the third century BCE, and the district has varied religions and cultures.Hindusare in the majority, with monuments toShaivism,Vaishnavism,Shaktism,Ganapatya,andMahavir.Other important communities include Muslims, Sikhs, Jains and Christians.
Temples[edit]
Important monuments include:
- Jagannath Temple, Puri
- Gundicha Temple,Puri
- Lokanatha Temple,Puri
- Jambeswar temple, Puri
- Sun Temple,Konark
- Barahi Temple, at Chourasi, in Nimapara Block
- Mangala Temple,Kakatpur
- Sakhigopal Temple,at Sakhigopal
- Amareswar Temple, at Amareswar, Nimapara Block
- Sculpture shed at Bishnupur, Nimapara
- Gramswar Temple, Terundia, Nimapara
- Alarnath Temple,Brahamgiri
- Baliharachandi Temple, Brahamagiri Block
- Kunteswar Temple, Araorh, Pipili Block
- Harihar Temple, nearPipili
- Shiva Temple, Jagadalpur at Delang Block
- Swapneswar Temple, Kendusahiat Satyabadi Block
- Baral Balunkeswar Temple at Satyabadi Block
- Dakhinakali Temple, Biragobindpur at Satyabadi Block
- Tara image at Badatara, Gop
- Bayalisbati Temple, near Gop
- Mohabir Temple, Siruli Sadar Block
- Sri Sri Bakreswar Temple at Balanga, Nimapara block
- Baba Balunkeswar Temple at Arisandha, Nimapara Block
- Nilakantha Temple and Chirnnamasta Temple at Biranarasinghpur Sasana.
Traditional Fairs and Festivals[edit]
Religious festivals[edit]
- Makar mela at Chilika, January
- Magha mela at Konark, January
- Maha Shivaratri,February
- Harirajpur Melan at Harirajpur, March
- Amla Navami atSakshigopal,March
- Panchudola Balanga Melan at Balanga Melan field, Nimapara block, March
- Sahi Yatra for seven days fromRama Navami,March/April
- Chandan Yatra,April
- Siruli Mahavir Mela duringPana Sankranti,April
- Jhamu Yatra at Kakatpur, May
- Baliharachandi Mela atBrahmagiriduring theRajaFestival, June
- Car Festival(Ratha Yatra), July
- Gosani Yatra,Dasahara,September/October
- Boita Bandan at Konark, October/November
- Dayana chori at Ghorodia inPipiliBlock
- Anavasara atAlarnatha Mandira,Brahamagiri.
- Snana Purnima celebration of Jagannath and Naga Jatra for three days at Rupadeipur, Pipli.[8]
- Sitala sasthi yatra at Biranarasinghpur sasana.
Tourist Festivals
- Konark Music & Dance Festival: Konark Natya Mandap, February
- Basant Utshav: Parampara Raghurajpur, February
- Sri Ksetra Mohotsav: Puri, April
- Gundicha Utsav: Puri, June
- Puri Beach Festival: Puri, November
- Konark festival: Konark, December
These festivals featureOdissi danceand folk dances from different parts of the country.
Dance and music[edit]
The role of dance and music in temple rituals in Puri was important enough to set aside a separate enclosure, theNata mandira,as a focal point. Nata mandiras are typically decorated with figures in various poses of dance and musicians playing a variety of instruments.
Odissi dance[edit]
Odissi dance is an ancientIndian classical danceform that originated in theHindu templesof Odisha. Traditionally this dance form was taught to thedevadasi(female temple dancers). In Odissi dances, the artists play out a mythical story, a spiritual message or devotional poem from theHindu texts,such asJayadev'sGita Govinda.After the abolition of the devadasi system, the traditional forms of the dance fell into disuse. Padmashri GuruKelucharan Mahapatrawas one of the gurus who revived the Odissi dance form in the mid-20th century.
Odissi music[edit]
Orissi music is a genre of Indian classical music originating from Puri. It is believed to date back to the 2nd century BCE, whenKharavela,king of Odisha, acted as a patron for this form of music and dance.[9]
Mahari dance[edit]
Mahari is a ritualistic dance form that was historically performed at the temple ofLord JagannathaatPuriby devadasi dancers called maharis. After the abolition of thedevadasi system,it is no longer danced at theJagannatha Templebut continues as a cultural dance.
Folk dances[edit]
Gotipuadanceis a folk dance of Puri, danced by boys under 14 years old, clad in female dress. The boys perform acrobatic figures inspired by the life ofRadhaandKrishna.The village ofRaghurajpuris known for its Gotipua dance troupes.
Naga dancesare danced by men wearing a heavy, elaborate costume including huge, highly decorated headgear and a false beard almost covering the face.
Medha dancesare traditional dances in which the dancers wear a hugepapier-mâchémask representing a demon or other character. Medha dancers participate in processions of temple idols on festival days such asRama Navami.
Other folk dances[edit]
Other folk dances common in the district include Ghoda nacha, Dhuduki nacha, Jatra, Pala, Daskathia, Bhalu nacha, Mankada nacha andNavrang.
Other notable sites[edit]
Archeological Sites[edit]
Excavated archeological sites in Puri district include:
- Kuruma or Kurum - This site is 8 km fromKonarkand contains the remains of a Buddhist monastery from the 10th century CE.
- Manikapatana- This site is on the left bank of theKushabhadra river,at the northern end of theChilika Lake.It has been identified as the medieval port ofChelitalodescribed by theChinesepilgrimHiuen Tsang.
- Khalkatapatna- on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive road is an ancient port that shows evidence of trade with Arabia and China in the 13th-15th centuries CE.[10]
Theatres[edit]
Annapurna Theatreis a pioneer in the field of theatrical performances.
District museum Puri[edit]
The District Museum at Puri is one of the branch museums ofOdisha State Museumand is managed by the state government. It was established in 1997.
Libraries[edit]
The District Library of Puri and Panchasakha Memorial hall Library, Sakshigopal are both managed by the state government's department of culture.
Puri district Culture Office[edit]
The Puri district Culture Office promotes cultural activities and implements government policy relating to art and culture. This office manages the District Library of Puri, Panchasakha Memorial Hall Library at Sakhigopal, and the District museum of Puri. It organises cultural programmes and offers grants to registered libraries, cultural institutions, and indigent artists. It also serves as the liaison to theOrissa Sahitya Academyand theSangeet Natak Akademi.
Politics[edit]
TheOdisha Legislative Assemblyconstituencies[11][12]of Puri district and their elected members are listed below.[13]
| No. | Constituency | Reservation | Extent of the Assembly Constituency (Blocks) | Member of 15th Assembly | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 105 | Kakatpur | SC | Konark (NAC), Kakatpur, Astarang, Gop (part) | Tusharkanti Behera | BJD |
| 106 | Nimapara | None | Nimapara (NAC), Nimapara, Gop (part) | Pravati Parida | BJP |
| 107 | Puri | None | Puri (M), Puri Sadar (part), Gop (part) | Sunil Kumar Mohanty | BJD |
| 108 | Brahmagiri | None | Brahmagiri, Krushnaprasad, Puri Sadar (part) | Upasana Mohapatra | BJP |
| 109 | Satyabadi | None | Satyabadi, Kanas | Om Prakash Mishra | BJP |
| 110 | Pipili | None | Pipili (NAC), Pipili, Delanga | Ashrit Pattanayak | BJP |
Notable people[edit]
- Gopabandhu Das
- Nilakantha Das
- Kelucharan Mohapatra
- Manasi Pradhan
- Raghunath Mohapatra
- Sudarshan Patnaik
Villages[edit]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefg"District Census Handbook 2011 - Puri"(PDF).Census of India.Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ^Cesarone, Bernard (May 16, 2001)."Pata-chitras of Orissa".www.asianart.com.Retrieved2019-11-30.
- ^Decadal Variation In Population Since 1901
- ^"Table C-01 Population by Religious Community: Odisha".Census of India, 2011.Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ^US Directorate of Intelligence."Country Comparison:Population".Archived fromthe originalon June 13, 2007.Retrieved2011-10-01.
Guinea-Bissau 1,596,677 July 2011 est.
- ^"2010 Resident Population Data".U. S. Census Bureau.Retrieved2011-09-30.
Idaho 1,567,582
- ^ab"Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Odisha".Census of India 2011.Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India.
- ^"Rath Yatra: Snana Purnima Likely To Be Held With Minimum Servitors".ODTV.RetrievedMay 21,2020.
- ^Mohanty, Gopinath (August 2007)."Odissi - The Classic Music"(PDF).Wayback Machine.Archived(PDF)from the original on 2009-04-10.Retrieved2019-11-30.
- ^Tripati, S.; ManiMurali, R.; Jayakumar, S.; Pradhan, A. K.; Behera, R. P.; Choudhury, R. (July 2015)."Khalkattapatna port: The lost archaeological heritage of Odisha, east coast of India"(PDF).Current Science (India).109:372–377.
- ^Assembly Constituencies and their EXtent
- ^Seats of Odisha
- ^"List of Member in Fourteenth Assembly".ws.ori.nic.in.Archived fromthe originalon 2 May 2007.Retrieved19 February2013.
MEMBER NAME
External links[edit]
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