Nayagarh

Nayagarh ନୟାଗଡ଼
city
Jagannath Temple at Nayagarh
Nayagarh Show map of Odisha Nayagarh Show map of India Location in Odisha, India
Coordinates: 20°08′N 85°06′E / 20.13°N 85.1°E / 20.13; 85.1Coordinates: 20°08′N 85°06′E / 20.13°N 85.1°E / 20.13; 85.1
Country	India
State	Odisha
District	Nayagarh
Government
• Collector & District Magistrate	Hemanta Kumar Padhi, OAS
Elevation	178 m (584 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	17,030
Languages
• Official	Odia
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	752-XXX
Telephone code	06753
Vehicle registration	OR-25 / OD-25
Nearest city	Khurdha
Literacy	79.17%
Lok Sabha constituency	3
Vidhan Sabha constituency	4
Website	www.nayagarh.nic.in

Nayagarh (ନୟାଗଡ଼) is a town and a notified area council (NAC) in Nayagarh district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of Nayagarh district.

Geography

Nayagarh is located at 20°08′N 85°06′E / 20.13°N 85.1°E / 20.13; 85.1.^[1] It has an average elevation of 178 metres (583 feet). This town has Rukhi mountain to the south and Balaram mountain to the north. These mountains mitigated the effects of the 1999 Odisha cyclone on Nayagarh. New Jagannath Sadak connects Nayagarh with the holy city of Puri.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,^[2] Nayagarh town had a population of 17,030, of which male and female were 9000 and 8030, respectively. There was a change of 11.30% in the population compared to the population as per 2001 in Nayagarh District. In the previous census of India 2001, Nayagarh District recorded an increase of 10.46% in its population compared to that of 1991.

The total area of Nayagarh district is about 3,890 km². There are a total of about 1700 villages in Nayagarh district.^[3]

Average literacy rate of the population of Nayagarh in 2011 was 79.17 compared to 70.52 of 2001. If things are looked out at genderwise, male and female literacy rates were 86.63 and 71.08, respectively. For 2001 census, same figures stood at 82.66 and 57.64 in Nayagarh District. Total literates in Nayagarh District were 681,522, of which male and female were 387,632 and 293,890, respectively. In 2001, the total population of literates in Nayagarh District was 529,840.

With regard to sex ratio in Nayagarh, it stood at 916 females per 1000 males compared to 2001 census figure of 938. The average national female sex ratio in India is 940 per 1000 males as per latest reports of Census 2011 Directorate.

In census enumeration, data regarding child under 0–6 years age were also collected for all districts including Nayagarh. There were total 101,337 children under the age of 0-6 against 113,180 of 2001 census. Of total 101,337, male and female were 54,759 and 46,578, respectively. Child sex ratio as per census 2011 was 851 compared to 904 of census 2001. In 2011, children under 6 formed 10.53% of Nayagarh District compared to 13.09% of 2001. There was a net change of −2.56% in this compared to previous census of India.

Nayagarh District population constituted 2.29% of the total population of Odisha as per 2001 census.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

History

The history of the foundation of Nayagarh State in the thirteenth century is an important chapter in the political history of Odisha. Suryamani of Baghela dynasty came to Puri on a pilgrimage from "Rewa" of Madhya Pradesh and established his kingdom at Nayagarh. On the way to Puri, both Suryamani and his brother Chandramani took rest at night at Gunanati. The area was full of tigers and at night a tiger attacked him. Both the brothers fought the tiger and killed it. The local people praised the brave brothers and elected Suryamani as their leader. Suryamani gradually built his fort at Gunanati and married a Mali (a cast known as worshiper of lord Shiv) girl. After the death of his first wife, he again married a Kshatriya girl. From there, he then attacked Haripur and Ralaba. Ralaba was a very beautiful place. While sleeping, a tiger attacked him at Ralaba; he again fought and killed it. At that moment, he saw a lady with an empty pot passed by to fetch water. Astonishingly, she returned with a little boy. Immediately, Suryamani obstructed the way of that lady and wanted to know about the mystery. The lady told she was Bouri Thakurani (a local worshiped goddess) and the tiger that the king killed was the boy. She advised Suryamani to kill her and worship her as his deity. From that date, Suryamani worshiped "Bauri Thakurani" at Ralaba and built his fort there and adopted Tiger Head as a state symbol.

Ninth king of this dynasty "Baghel Singh" (1480–1510) came on a hunting to a place in between Rukshi and Balaram mountains and saw a wonderful sight that a rabbit pressed down a dog there. After seeing this valourous act by the prey (rabbit) on the predator, he selected and shifted his capital to this place. As per his name, Nayagarh is also known as "Baghua Nayagarh" (valourous Nayagarh). The place where such an event occurred is now known as "KukurTasara" ('kukur' means 'dog' and 'tasara' means a large piece of stone in Odia, where the pressing of the dog by the rabbit had occurred and hence the name).

12th King of Nayagarh was Raghunath Sing (1565–1595) who was highly powerful. During this time, Muslims had already captured Odisha and the atmosphere of the coastal Odisha was fully indiscipline. The last independent king Mukunda Dev (1565) was defeated in Gohritikira and died. By taking the advantages of the political situations of coastal Odisha, Raghunath Singh attacked Ranapur and captured Odagaon, Sarankul and Baunsiapara area from Ranapur estate and dispossessed Nayagarh-Daspalla border area from the King of Boudh and Sunamuhin area of Odgaon from the King of Ghumusar. He also captured a portion from Banpur. Before death, Ragunath Singh divided his estate between his three sons. Harihar Singh was in possession of Nayagarh and Jadunath Singh got four Khandagrams (large area of land) which was known as Khandapada later. Gadadhar Singh was the son of Harihar Singh. When he was engaged in a fight with Ranpur estate, the king of Ghumusar attacked Nayagarh. Pindik Patsahani of village Sunalati with 150 soldiers fought the great army of Ghumusar and defeated him. But, in subsequent war, he was captured by the enemy and sacrificed his life. Gadadhar Sing's daughter married the great poet Upendra Bhanja of Ghumusar who settled at Malisahi of Nayagarh estate after marriage. When British captured Odisha, Binayak Singh Mandhata was the King of Nayagarh and the great Jadumani Mahapatra was his court poet.

There is an old adage which other districts people often ask a person from Nayagarh when somebody goes outside the Nayagarh state. This is as follows:

jebe kahibu bara gaon tera gadia (if you can say 12 village names ending in 'gaon' and 13 villages names ending in 'gadia', which are part of Nayagarh district)

tebe janiba tu Nayagarhia (then we will know that you are from Nayagarh)

The answer is—village ending in 'gaon': Dihagaon, Duargaon, Deogaon, Balugaon, Natugaon, Khandugaon, Nuagaon, Odagaon, Khuntgaon, Batagaon, Rasanga, Pokasunga.

village ending in 'gadia':

Benagadia, Rabigadia, Kainthgadia, Ghodagadia, Hinjalgadia, Dhundugadia, Muthagadia, Minagadia, Ranigadia, Baunsagadia, Kusumagadia, Madangadia, Todigadia

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

Educational Institutes

College

Nayagarh Autonomous College

In 1961, the then SDO (subdivisional officer) of Nayagarh Sri Bhramarabar Jena took the initiative to establish a college. With generous charities of land from the endowments of Sri Gopinath Jew, Her Majesty the Queen of the erstwhile princely state of Nayagarh, the Forest Department; the then Eastern zone Command Base (now the Police Training School, Nayagarh) and numerous small-land owners, the college came into existence on a Sylvan surrounding at the foot of the Rukhi Range on 9 July 1961. To name a few who will be long remembered for their valuable contribution and active role towards the formation of Nayagarh College are Shri Akrura Mohapatra, Advocate; Shri Raghunath Mohapatra, renowned Agriculturist; Shri Narasingha Pattnaik, Advocate; Shri Raghunath Das, first NAC Chairman of Nayagarh and a social activist; Shri Achhutananda Mohanty, ExMLA, Nayagarah; Shri Rajkishore Pattnaik, Poet; Shri Rajkishore Pattnaik, Advocate; Shri Jaladhar Behera, Advocate; Shri Krishna Chandra Satpathy, Advocate; and Sri Benudhar Mohapatra, Agriculturist.

The infrastructure includes the massive two storied Academic Building that houses all the Arts, Commerce and Science departments and laboratories, office rooms for both the wings of N.C.C., N.S.S and Youth Red Cross. The Administrative Block includes Central office and Examination Section; the Library building houses Reading Room; three hostels (two Gents’ and one Girls’), 10 Staff Quarters and a spacious playground with 400 m track are the added attractions of the college. The Gents’ hostel has been named after the noted poet Kabi Jadumani, while the other has been named after the world famous astrophysicist Pathani Samant, the worthy son of Khandapada. The Women's hostel has been named after the woman freedom fighter Malati Choudhury, the wife of the former chief minister and freedom fighter Nabakrushna Choudhuri. Besides its own water supply system on the Sprawling Campus, other amenities of the College include Open Air Auditorium, Canteen, Guest house, Health Centre, cycle shed, post office, and NCC Firing Range. The college library has a total stock of 35,139 books (undergraduate and higher secondary) including 16,309 reference books and 4,910 books in the Book Bank, subscription to 29 journals and periodicals, Reading Room facility for the teachers and the students, circulation facility, clipping facility, audio-visual facility and Internet access. The catalogueing system is fully computerised. The college came into University Grants Commission (UGC) fold in July 1964 under 2(f) and subsequently under 12 (B). Since then, the UGC has been providing adequate financial assistance for the promotion of academic activities as well as for the development of infrastructure. The college has recently been declared an Autonomous College by the UGC w.e.f. the session 2006-2007.

Nayagarh Women's College

The college had its inception from 02-07-1981. Mr S.M. Soleman was the founder Secretary of the college. In the old building of Prajamandal Office in Nayagarh Town, it started imparting instruction in intermediate in arts (IA) level, being recognized by the Government of Orissa and affiliated to Utkal University. IA stage was converted to +2 stage in 1983–84 and +3 class in Arts started in 1988–89. The college got permanent recognition from Govt of Orissa and permanent affiliation of +3 courses by Utkal University.

From the 1991–92, the college started functioning with principal-cum-secretary and this practice is going on till date. Honours courses in Political Science, History, Education and Sanskrit were started in 1994–95 and English, Oriya and Economics Honours have started from 2010–11 with 16 seats each. The +2 Science Course has been started from 1999-2000 with due permission of Govt of Odisha. The development of the college is attributed to the donations received from the people of Nayagarh and Govt of Odisha. Further development of the college is due to the financial assistance of the UGC, State Govt and MP Fund. Almost 900 students prosecute their study in the college and more than 200 students are to reside in the hostel within the college campus. The facility of Computer Education is also available in this college. With the noble endeavour of President Girls Brigade (GB), the science stream at +2 level, increases of seats and honours provisions in degree stage (+3 level) have been introduced in the institution.

UNIITECH Residential College

The college had its inception from 2009-10.

UNIITECH Degree College

The college had its inception from 2016-17.

School

Brajendra High School

Brajendra High School is the oldest high school in Nayagarh. It is named after Raja Brajendra Kishore Singh Mandhata, Raja Saheb of Nayagarh (erstwhile king) of Nayagarh. The school is situated near the Government Hospital and beside the Head Post Office. Initially it was a boys high school but later it became a co-ed school. Now it is taken care by Nayagarh Block. Hostels for students are also built. Brajendra High School is located in the road side of NH - 224 or in front of Notified Area Council (NAC), Nayagarh.

DAV Public School

It is one of the newest schools in Nayagarh town, established in 1997. Presently it is one of the most eminent DAV schools in Nayagarh. The schools is well known for quality education, highly qualified teaching staff, and achievement by its stduents in district level. Present principal is Mrs. Sabita Panda and Mr. Abhaya Kumar Pradhan is the school Manager.

Maharishi Vidya Mandir (MVM), Nayagarh

This grand educational institute was established on 11 May 1991 at New Rajabati road. An advanced and quintessential school with vedic science as base and scientific knowledge as approach has set a benchmark in education in Nayagarh. It was initially started with the greatest efforts from Dr Gyanendra Mahapatra Vice-Chancellor,Maharishi Ved Vigyan Viswa Vidyapeeth and Surajit Praharaj, State Co-Ordinator Maharishi Vidya Mandir,Orrisa,Mr.Monoranjan Mahapatra,Advocate,Nayagarh, Mr. Rajkishore Dalei and some other staff. Ms. Annapurna Ray is the present principal of the school. It follows CBSE curriculum.

The first batch passed out in 2000. At that time students have to appear exam from Maharishi Vidya Mandir, Sahadevkunta, Balasore. Later the center of exam shifted to Bhubaneswar. Now the center of exam is shifted to Nayagarh.

Initially started in New Rajabati lane, the school was later shifted to its own building in 2004, which is currently located in the Muktapur Road, i.e. while moving in NH 224, Lord Jagannath Temple comes on the way. From there a road goes towards left. Moving one kilometer in that road Maharishi Vidya Mandir comes on the right.

It is a specialised school for vedic science. Visual aid is also given to students to understand the subject perfectly.

N.A.C High School

This is one of the oldest schools of Nayagarh. This high school is located at old town road and the school has a strength of more than 500 students and 20 teachers and offers classes from VI to X. Before 2005, this school was running under N.A.C.(Notified Area Council); from 2006, it is directly functioning under the Govt of Odisha. Sri Gangadhara Maharana was the first Headmaster of this school.

Saraswati Vidya Mandir

It is one of the oldest schools among private high schools of Nayagarh town and was established in 1994 with some 50 students and 8 teachers. Now it is the leading private institution with about 1200 plus students and the district headquarters for a number of branches in different blocks all over the district. The school is now situated near Nabhaghanpur with its new building at a 5-min distance from the town. The school is well known for quality education blended with Indian values, and constantly achieves very good result in the high school board exam in the district level. The medium of teaching is Odia.

Madhukesh Bidyapitha, Nagamundali

Madhukesh Bidyapitha is a government high school which is located in Nagamundali village, 10 km south-east from Nayagarh town (on Nayagarh-Godipada road). It is an old high school in the district. The school has taken a great role in the development of education system in some rural areas of Nayagarh district. Not only the students are from the Nagamundali village itself, but also there are students from the nearby villages (i.e. Gamein, Binjhagiri, Kalika Prasad, Begunia Patana, Chindera, Adachera, Manapura) coming to study in this school. Although in a rural area, the school has good staff and students. Nowadays, its alumni have owned good positions i.e. doctors, engineers,scientists etc., in various laevels. It is situated on the foot of Gamein and Binjhagiri hills and has a beautiful campus including academic building, garden and playground.

Bhagirathi High School(Gobindapur),Solapada High School,(Solapada)

Solapata High School is located at village Solapata, 6 km away on the road to Sarankul. It was established in 1964. This is one of the oldest schools of Nayagarh. Another high school is located at Gobindapur (Gram Panchayat- Gadadhar Prasad, Block/Dist- Nayagarh). This school has a strength of more than 200 students and 12 teachers and offers classes from VIII to X. Sri Biswambar Acharya was the first Headmaster of this school. It was established by late Bhagirathi Satapathi in the year 1968.It is a noticible that Mr Bhagirathi Satapathi donates his property for the school.MRs. Bijayalaxmi Pattnaik is now in the post of headmaster.It is a computerised school and improved more in the recent years. Some other schools are there in Itamati, Dasapalla, Khandapara, Kantilo, Godipada, Sankhei, Sarankul, Odagaon, Chahali and Kajalaipalli. Although these are rural schools, they have produced thousands of scholarly teachers, scientists, engineers, other professionals and intellectuals working successfully in the country and abroad.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

Temples, Tourist, Attractions and Nearby places of Interest

Temples & Religious Places

Ladukeswar Temple

This Shiv temple is situated at Sharanakula, a small town towards Odagaon Block. Maha Shivaratri is the important festival which is being celebrated every year. People from all parts of Odisha (mainly south Odisha) come to this place during the festival.The deity popularly known as "Ladu Baba" bestows blessing upon everyone. The temple is situated around 100 km from Bhubaneswar on the Nayagrah- Aska Road in Sharankul and 13 km away from Nayagarh town. The city is regarded as the golden merge of Hari (Vishnu) and Hara (Shiva). "Bolbam" is a famous traditional culture here for which people across different parts of odisha visits the temple from their own towns by walking on bare foot and carrying a stick over their shoulder holding 2 pots of water from their town and finally put in the Ladukeshwar temple on the occasion of shivaratri. The history of Ladukeshwar temple says that a cowherd used to take couple of cows to the Bhandar mountain situated on top of Ladukeshwar temple now and one day he noticed that the cow automatically milks over a stone periodically everyday and one day when by mistake the cow put the leg on that stone, blood came out of the stone. To the very surprise, the cowherd told that story to village head and on that night one temple priest saw a dream of god speaking of establishing a temple over there. And the king agreed to it and established the temple. From that day onwards Ladukeshwar temple got established in Sharankul. In front of the temple, one monkey used to come for many days and sit at the exit of temple everyday and never ate anything offered by the public and died after few days, hence one small temple was built just outside the exit in the memory of that loving devoted monkey.The temple is now further restructured with more temples internally with further introduction of "Naba gunjar", Maa laxmi temple, haraparbati temple and floating stone of magical Ramsetu times etc.The history is very old and teaches us the culture in every respect.

Nilamadhab Temple

This temple is situated at Kantilo around 35 km from Nayagarh and 60 km distance from Bhubaneswar.It is believed that lord Jagannath is the secondary form of lord Nilamadhav, who was worshiped by the tribal head Biswabasu.

Odogaon Raghunath Temple

This temple is situated at Odagaon around 40 km distance from Nayagarh town. Lord Rama is worshiped there along with lord Laxman and goddess Sita.

Dakshinakali Temple

This temple is situated in Nayagarh around 1 km distance from Nayagarh town.Goddess Dakshinakli is the prime deity of Nayagarh. It is said She was taken by a great tantrik of the royal family of Nayagarh king once on his way from Khandpara to Nayagarh. While the royal kin was coming through a mango field at night, the deity appeared before him and since he was a great tantrik, he imprisoned the devi (goddess) and asked her to come with him as an aid till he reaches Nayagarh as he was travelling alone. Goddess Dakshinakli came with the tantrik, but upon reaching Nayagarh when he asked Her now She can go, the goddess replied him as you have made me come here now give me shelter and I would not go back and even cursed him to be childless as She was the mother goddess and a son should not have done this even if he has great magical power. Since then the temple for Dakshin Kali was built on and the goddess has been worshipped.

Balabhadrapur Jagannath Temple

It is a very beautiful temple which is situated at Balabhadrapur village under Malishahi police station.

Jaleswar Temple,Dihagaon

This Shiv temple is situated at Dihagaon, a small village 5 km distance from Daspalla Town towards Gania Block. This is the only shiv temple in the Dashapalla area whose "Shiv Ling is a patali shiv ling (came from netherworld, i.e. deep earth, by itself)" and has not been established by human beings. This Shiva Ling was discovered by a tribal couple while they were searching for their habitats.Kartik Poornima is the main fastival of Dihagaon Jaleswar Temple followed by Maha Shivaratri,Dola Purnima and Sitala Sasthi.

Tourist, Attractions and Nearby places of Interest

Gokulananda Tourism Center

It is famous tourist attraction in Nayagarh district, which is situated on the bank of river Mahanadi in Sidhamula village. People from all over the state come here for picnics and to see the scenic beauty. Now there is a cottage and deer park installed near the picnic spot. Night staying is available in the cottage.^[4]

Satkosia Gorge

It is the deepest river gorge of Odisha in the river Mahanadi. Its length is about 16 km in between Angul and Dashapalla boundary. Gharial crocodile and many reptiles,aquatic birds and animals are found here.

Satakosia Wildlife Sanctuary

The Satakosia wildlife sanctuary is a tiger reserve. It attracts the nature lovers to experience the Flora and Fauna of Dashapalla amidst deep dense forest with numerous trees, herbs and creepers. Tiger, elephant, deer, spotted deer, bison, hare, jackal, wolf, leopard, peacock, parrot, maina, etc., are common.

Kuanaria Dam

A medium Irrigation Project has been built on the river Kuanaria just 7 km away from Dashapalla town. It is the largest river dam of Nayagarh district and a very good picnic spot with a deer park. Irrigation I.B., Wildlife I.B. and RWSS I.B. are here for short stay of the visitors.

Budhabudhiani Dam

Budhabudhiani Dam 10 km from Odagaon town is a beautiful picnic place of Nayagarh District.

Mahaveer Khol

Mahaveer Khol, a small hill at the north of Dashapalla is believed to be the original place of God Mahaveer. Swapna Mahaveer is being worshipped here since 1983. It is a fine religious place as well as a very good spot for picnic and for visit. A 3-day-long Jajna is held here every year during Bisub Sankranti where thousands of people gather.

Bhimara

It is a fine place for rock trekking. Generally people gather here in the month of Kartik for a visit. It is believed that Bhim the 2nd Pandav was here for some days. So the grand rock bears the foot prints of Bhim and named as Bhimara.

Gilli Pathar & Gadda Vitara

• Gilli Pathar is an actractive place where a temple of lord Giri Gobardhan (name of loard Krishna who once held the mountain Gobardan)is situated on the top of the Gamein Bhandarswar Hill. The hill is full of huge rocks. Its height is approximately 100 m from the sea level. The temple looks like Gilli (a Pin-point). The views of four paradises look beautiful from the top of the hill and it is also visible from long distances.

• Gadda Vitara is a picnic spot and a hill side situated in the village Gamein which is 10 km distance from Nayagarh.It is a historical place. The local people say that the king of Nayagarh had made his Gadda(a place where the King goes for safety living from the enemies at the time of wars) inside the boundaries of four large hills named Barada Pahada, Gamein Bhandarswar Mundia, Binjhagiri Mundia and Kesharpur pahada. The elephants (Nag) protect the Gada on the foot of the hills which is known as Nagamundali (now there is a village named as Nagamundali Village). There was a large plain area inside the four hills boundaries. Right now plantation has been made there by the villagers. It is a good picnic spot to view the hill side, stream and green areas.

To reach at this place,drive on the Nayagarh-Godipada road up to Kalikaprasada, then right turn for 3 km to Gamein Village. Another road is also the same 10 km distance, a 5-km drive on the Nayagarh-Odagaon Road and left turn from Jamujhala for next 5 km to Gamein Village.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

Forest and Wild life

Daspalla, Vimara Range

Vimara Range is 35 km from Nayagarh town towards Daspalla. It is very attractive, scenic and is divided into three by large stones and was made not just by the rulers but also by the villagers.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

Cuisines

Nayagarh is famous for the popular sweet dish Chhena poda, which means 'burnt cheese' in Oriya. The best quality chhena poda is now available in Itamati and Machhipada (native places of Nayagarh). Pithas are enjoyed on traditional holidays, while savory pithas are more common at other times of the year. Natives of Nayagarh and in other regions like Daspalla, Madhyakhanda and Gholahandi prepare Manda pitha, Chakuli pitha, Poda pitha, Arisha Pitha, Kakra Pitha on different Hindu Festival.

Business, agriculture, and culture

Itamati only 6 km away from Nayagarh town is the main Business Centre of Nayagarh. All types of trading of Nayagarh start in Itamati. Nayagarh also developed a great business market nowadays with some new Shopping Malls and new shops. Since Nayagarh is present in between Angul, Cuttack, Aska, Berhampur, Koraput and Khurdha, Nayagarh also had a great business field. After completion of Sidhamala Dam Project in Kantilo over Mahanadi River, the distance from Nayagarh to Angul and Cuttack has been shortened, which ultimately increased business in Nayagarh. The National Highway 224 also goes through Nayagarh, which shortened the distance from Bhubaneswar to Bolangir. This also influenced trade in Nayagarh.

The agricultural lands of the district of Nayagarh are basically fit for cultivation of seasonal paddy, pulses like mung and black gram and sugarcane. There are hills and forests spread in the nearby areas of the town of Nayagarh as well as in the different parts of the district where herbal and forest products are available including natural medicinal plants.People cultivate groundnut, sesame, and other similar grams during the suitable times which are highly nutritious. The forest products also include saal and kendu leaves supporting life of the rural and tribal people.

The culture of Nayagarh is rural and based on the established traditions right from the ancient times. These are mostly related to the religious systems prevailing in the Hindu temples of Lord Shiva, Lord Rama,Lord Krishna, Lord Jagannath and the established deities of Hinduism. Every year, people observe Mahavishuva Sankranti (or Pana Sankranti also known as Haunuman Jayanti after performing the rituals of Danda, a traditional festival of lord Shiv and Goddess Kali when people keep fast and walk on the fire made of wood charcoals on the last day of the festival, with a great fervor. In addition, there are age-old traditions of Dola Yatra, Rama Navami and Ratha Yatra too. Nayagarh has unique contributions of Danda Yatra, Raam Leela,Duari Nata, Pala, Daskathia, and Samkirtan to the State. Even these days, the people take strain unitedly to stage drama on different occasions. In a village named Maniakagoda and even elsewhere in the locality, all cultural celebrations are equally enjoyed by both Hindus and Muslims.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

NGOs

Bruksha ‘O’ Jeevar Bandhu Parisad (BOJBP)

BOJBP, Kesharpur, Dist-Nayagarh, Odisha is a people’s voluntary organization founded on 1 January 1978 and registered under the Societies Registration Act 1860 and it has also been registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act 1976 and Registered Under Income Tax -80G. It has been working in Nayagarh District for Forest Protection, Wild Life Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture. An area of 2.5 lakh acres of Forest has been protected in 750 villages through community Forest Management System. Eight women Bio-Farmers groups are organized besides health and sanitation activities like supply of low-cost sanitation latrines, holding of eye camp, dental camp and leprosy camp etc. It also promotes System of Rice Intensification, in 644 acres of land in 56 villages in 5 Blocks of Nayagarh District. It established Seed Bank, Seedling Bank and Research and Information centre on Sustainable Agriculture.

BOJBP is a grassroot organization working for the people feeling the need of the operational area. The organization has started the project “Upscaling SRI in Odisha” since 2008. Including six grassroot-level organizations of different blocks, BOJBP has been promoting System of Rice Intensification (SRI) which is a pole star for the marginal and small farmers to enhance production. During this reporting period (April 9-March 10) sub-circle meeting of the farmers, orientation of staff for skill development, training to farmers on SRI and sustainable agriculture, training to farmers on preparation and use of vermicompost and bio-pesticides, circle meeting of farmers, training to farm labourers, training to women on sustainable agriculture, training to key trainers, block- and district-level meeting of SRI farmers to strengthen farmers federation were some of the key activities undertaken. Besides that, 138 soil samples have been tested in this office after getting training on soil testing.

Objectives

Its objectives are diverse. They include:

• Improve socio-economic status of the marginal and small farmers through enhanced crop production by providing them skill and inputs to adopt SRI and SA.
• Reduce the number of distress migration by providing them employment opportunities for rural agricultural labours in villages.
• Build federation of organic farmers to have broader impact and who can undertake lobby and advocacy efforts to safeguard the interest of the farming community.

Sambhav

Sambhav is an NGO working for Biodiversity, Organic Farming, and Rural Sanitation. It was established in 1989, March 8, on Women's Day. The organizer of this NGO is Sabarmathi. She took the barren land of 90 acres in the hills and repaired it for 11 long years like a mother. Now after 22 years, it is a good land, giving too many domestic seeds.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

Great Personalities of Nayagarh

Nayagarh has a prominent place in the history of Odia literature, especially in Odia poetry. Many of the great Odia poets are from Nayagarh. Kabi samrat Upendra Bhanj famous for Baidehisha Bilas and others who throughout his poetic career lived in Nayagarh and had the boon of Lord Sriram from the temple of Deuli village in Nayagarh, Utkala Ghanta Jadumani Mohapatra, famous for Raghab Bilas and Prabandha Purnachandra, etc., Kabisurya Sadananda Brahma who is the guru (teacher) of gaudiya kabi Abhimanyu Samant Singhar, Banigourab Kabi Biswanath Champati^[5] who was a great poet, tantrik and astrologer. Above all, the great Samant Chandra Sekhar (popularly known as Pathani Samant) of Khandapara was a great poet whose Sidhant Darpan stands as a witness, a great work of Sanskrit literature written in Odia script on astrological treaties, which stands as a masterpiece of astrological research in world literature. Jagu Rautray was the army general of the king of Nayagarh who defeated Kujanga Sandha a great fighter of Kujang in Odisha. Famous sankirtan gayaks Anand Nayak (titled niankhunta—burning rod, village-Notar), Harihar Nayak (vil.-Phasipada), Udayanath Prusty (vil. Godipada), etc., are a few to mention. Arjun Barik (vil.- Badadesh Haripur) is also a well-known poet of Nayagarh.

By:Saroj Kumar Rautaray

Politics

The current MLA is the State Panchayatiraj & Law Minister, Government of Odisha, Arun Kumar Sahoo of Biju Janta Dal (BJD), who won the seat for the third term in State elections in 2014. Previous MLAs from this seat were Arun Kumar Sahoo (2004–2009), Bhagabat Behera who won this seat representing BJD in 2000, representing JD in 1990, representing JNP in 1985 and 1977, Sitakanta Mishra of INC in 1995, and Bansidhar Sahoo of INC(I) in 1980.^[6]

Print media of Nayagarh

The print media of Nayagarh District are Nayagarh Darpan, Sambad Parampara, Graharaj,Baghua Barta.Among all Nayagarh Darpan is largely circulated fortnightly News Paper in Nayagarh District.

Lok Sabha constituency

Nayagarh was a part of Bhubaneswar (Lok Sabha constituency).^[7] And after delimitation it is now part of Puri loksabha constituency from 2009.

References

External links