| Voice of Puri : Shachikanta
Mishra
Following are the social and developmental challenges of Puri district:
Gender inequality is present in the rural areas of the district.
Existence of social evils like untouchability in the rural areas.
Lack of sanitation and hygiene.
Located near the coastal region, the residences of that area get
disturbed during high tide.
Puri District
Area, Population & Sex Ratio
Geographical Area : 3479.0 Km2
Population in Puri (Census 2011)
Total Population
Total : 1,697,983
Male : 865,209
Female : 832,774
Disabled population
Total disabled population : 57083
In seeing : 31914
In speech : 2777
In hearing : 4064
In movement : 12118
Mental : 6210
Rank ( VoiceOfBharat.org Analysis
)
Backwardness : 229
Sex Ratio Rank : 413
(Rank one is least sex ratio - Cenus 2001)
HIV Category District : C
(HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2004 - 2006)
Disability : 121 (Census 2001)
Literacy Ratio : 75 (Census 2001)
Minority : Does not figure in MCD
Brief About Puri District
Puri being a coastal district of Orissa , is famous
for its Historic antiquities ,Religious sanctuaries , Architectural
Grandeur , Sea-scape beauty,moderate climate.It holds a wealth of
attraction for the visitors. It boasts of a continuous history from
the 3rd Century B.C. to the present day and its unique monuments
like those of Lord Jagannath at Puri , the Sun God at Konark are
the famous in the world. It has the Chilika lake , one of the largest
brackish water lakes in India, that holds a picturesque Sea-Scape
beauty. It offers an ideal resort for birds who migrate from different
parts of the continent . By virtue of Geographical location , the
climate of Puri is equable through out the year.
Puri the abode of Vishnu as Jagannath which contributed
the word " Juggernaut" to the English language, represents
its integrated individuality as its cultural heritage , a unique
blend of claims of time and eternity with a power answerable only
to wisdom . Puri's compendious heritage has been representing that
spark of immortality that the Oriyas and the Indians have own against
the powers of negation , through a spirit of university , adaptability
, and an astute mixture of the present which no other culture can
aspire to explain as its self justification. The name of the Lord
as Purusottama (perfection personified) or as Jagannath (Lord of
Universe) represents a universality in true with the familiar faternity
of mankind (Vasudheiva Kutumbakam). Adi Shankaracharya visited
Puri , set up the Gobardhan matha (monastery) as the exception from
his other three mathas as a vaishnavite, defined Jagannath as the
Supreme one. It is thus not only one of the four Dhams (Holy Places)
for Hindus but the most pious and sacred place.
Various sectarian head visited Puri on piligrimage
, setup his own monastery for continued serve to Lord Jagannath
and returned .
Spiritually mollified - The list includes Kabir and the "Torani'
of Kabirchaura nayak the founder of Shikhism , visited Puri and
gained entrance into the temple by performing a miraculous feat
of showing the trinity reflected on his palms . He setup the bauli
and Mangi mathas which still attract the Shikhs from the worldover
. Sankar Deva of Assam had followed the same path . Other religious
heads and dignifiers like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Rai Ramananda ,
Jayadeva, Gorakhanath, the father of Nath, cult of religious
icoloclasm supposed by visited Puri. Saint Totapuri
a vedant teacher of Ramakrishna has also visited puri.
Bhakti Krishnatirtha and Muquaddam Jahanies visited Puri . The latters
synthesized "Pir" concept at konark bears testimony . Sridhar Swami
, SadhuSundar Das and the devote ma visited Puri for
fulfilment of their spiritual Craze.
The Quintessential characteristic of its culture and philosophy
has made it from Pan-Indian to Pan-Continental. The Car-Festicval
of Shri Lord Jagannath now not limited to Puri or Orissa rather
it is celebrated in global scale , the reverberation echos of which
are heard from Los Angeles to Piccadily from Heidelberg to
Tokyo.
The Jagannath culture is not only pre-dominated in Puri but it is
global. Its Universal affirmation is secular defusion of such an
attitude is futuristic. It calls for unity in diversity is an age
of diverse perversity. The consecration of all the empire by Gajapati
of Puri .Kapilendra Deva to Lord Jagannath , the lord emerging as
"istadeva " and "Rastradevata" and rolled down the centuries as
the crest of nationalism which found Madhusudan Das (the eminent
barister of British era )in 1928 to cryout 'serve us, Lord Jagannath'.
The dazzle of Kohi-noor, originally gifted to Lord Jagannath , the
Hum of devotional "Janana"(non-bhajan), the cries of Chandan
Hajuri (the chief warier of Maharani Laxmibai) and 'the Mahaprasad
brotherhood' have been unifying forces and symbols of national
unity .
The evolution of Odissi Dance and music out of the Devadasi-institution
still enchants all with its mystic rhythm. The Orissan school
of architecture emerging from here is a poetry frozen in stone.
The Patta-paintings and applique work are a craze in the west ,particularly
in U.S.A. of today . The Shell-craft of Puri have a major appeal.
It is thus here at puri that the pattern of a Pan-Indian ,(nay,
global) culture of tomorrow is on the anvil . People are individual atoms
ever contributing their properties to the "matter" of Jagannath
Dharma without conciousness of mutual distinctions . Puri belongs
to humanity , the seat of an eternal education , the
bridge that gulfs the past and the future and the blending of diverse
impulses for a single embodiment in the march of all fulfilling
time .
Temples and sanctuaries , beaches and glorious
lakes, colorful ,vibrant and the numerous festivals for every reason
and for every season that can take on a"Jagannath-like momentum"
.
Puri has then all and much more for all.
Excellently connected by air, rail,and road , Puri invites you
to its hospitable environs and promises you an experience you will
never forget .When others talk of taking you down memory lane .
Puri will take you back to your ancient linkages . When others talk
of romancing with the stones, her ancient architects and sculptors
will show you what it really means ,
HISTORY
PRE-HISTORY
Like many other parts of Orissa , in the Puri District , river gravels
and slits may be included among the various Pleistone formations.
But no formationof this period has so far yielded any type of pre-historic
stone tool though they are found in a large number from similar
formations (river gravels,secondary laterite pits and murrams)
in the districts of Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Sundargarh.
So whatever information we have regarding the pre-historic cultures
of this districts are mainly derived from different types of stone
tools collected from the surface.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME
The District has been named after its head quartes town, Puri.According
to Cunningham the ancient name of this town was Charitra
mentioned by the Chinese piligrim Hiuen Tsang as Che-li-ta-lo. But
the restoration of the word Che-li-ta-lo as Charitra and its
identification with the town of Puri are open to doubt. The importance
of the town as a seat of Vaisnavism increased when
Chodaganga Deva constructed the temple of Purusottama Jagannath
and installed the images of the deities. Thereafter , it became famous
as the abode of Purusottama and was popularly called purusottama
Kshetra.
In the drama Anargharaghava Natakam attributed
to cir.9th century A.D. we find the name Purusottama applied
to this town . In the Nagari Plate of Anangabhima III of the Saka
year 1151-52 i.e., 1229-30 A.D. , the place is called Purusottama
Kshetra . This name in the form of Purusottama Chhatar or
only in the form Chhatar was used by the Mughal , the Maratha as
well as the early British rulers in their official records
. even in Yoginitantra and Kalikapurana the city is reffered to
as Purusottam . Puri region was also known as Utkal.
The name Purusottama Kshetra was also for sometimes
known as purusottama Puri and as the word Purusottama Kshetra
was contracted into Kshetra or Chhatra so also Purusottama
Puri was expressed in the contracted form Puri . Infact , in many
early British records this town is known by the name Pooree.
In modern times Puri has become the most popular of all the other
names of this town.
HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE
UNIT
Under Mughal Rule (1592-1751) ,Orissa for the purpose of revenue
administration was divided into three circars , namely Jaleswar,
Bhadrak and kataka each of which Under Mughal was subdivided into
Bishis. Puri formed a part of kataka circar. After their occupation
of Orissa in 1751 , the Marathas brought about some changes in the
revenue divisions of the province . they divided Orissa ,
which then extended from the river Suvarnarekha in the North to
the lake Chilika in the South , into five Chakalas viz. (I)
Pipli , (II) Kataka (III)Soro , (IV) Balasore. The Chakala
of Pipli comprised major portions of the modern district of Puri
. The Chakalas were divided into parganas into Mahals or Taluqs.
The conquest of Orissa by the British in 1803 set fourth great changes
in revenue divisions and political relations . In June 1804,
the province was divided into two divisions , namely the Northern
and Southern Divisions , 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 and
G.Webb succeeded Groene as collector and Robert Ker became
the Judge and Magistrate of the whole province.
As the Raja of Khurdha revolted the 1804, he was arrested and was
placed in confinement in the Fort of Barabati at Cuttack.
His teritory was confiscated and the Raja was subsequently released.
In 1807 he was permitted to live at Balisahi in the town of Puri
and functioned
as superintendent of the temple of Jagannath. Puri was the capital
of the province of Orissa and the headquarters of the collector
,till 1816. In 1806 there was a proposal to
remove the head quarters to Jajpur , but it didn't get Government
sanction . In August 1814, a part of the collectors establishment
was removed to Cuttack , which was again brought back to Puri
in December . By 1916 the Head quarter was permanently shifted to
Cuttack which was Head quarter during Moghal and Marathas . By 1818
the office of the commissioner was established and Robert
Ker became the first commissioner . From 1813 to 1819 there
was a joint Magistrate at Puri with the jurisdiction over the Thana
of Pipli , Gop , Hariharpur and Kiran . By 1819 this office
was abolished and the joint magistrate of Khurdha was given the
charge of the above thanas . On 11th February 1822, the office of
the joint magistrate of Khurdha was abolished and Orissa was
again divided into two divisions with the river Baitarani as the
dividing line . Willkinson , the collector of Cuttack , was placed
in charge of Cuttack and Khurdha and Ricketts with powers of a collector
was given the charge of Balasore and Bhadrak .
Finally on 23rd October 1828, the province was divided into three
districts , namely Balaore , Cuttack and Jagannath, later known
as Puri. Regulation IV of 1821 had provided that the power
of a magistrate and collector might be vested in one and the same
person and accordingly are magistrate and collector was appointed
in each of the above three districts . H. Ricketts , R. Hunter and
W. Willkinson were the first magistrate and collectors of
Balasore , Cuttack and puri districts respectively.
In 1912 the new province of Bihar and Orissa was formed and subsequently
Orissa a become a separate province in 1936 . After intergration
with Orissa an 1st January 1948 of the feudatry states of Nayagarh
, Daspalla, Khandapara and Ranapur with a total area of 3941
1st km. a separate Sub-Division comprising these ex-states was adede
to Puri District with headquarters at Nayagarh. The fourth
Sub-Division of Bhubaneswar was carred at an 26th January 1959 .
The old Puri District consisted of four Sub-Division i.e Puri Sadar,
Khurdha, Bhubaneswar and Nayagarh , Puri Sadar Sub-Division
consists of four Tahasils i.e 1) Krushna Prasad 2)Sadar 3) Pipili,
4) Nimapara
Again by the year 1995 the Puri District was devided into 3 District
i.e
i) Nayagarh District comprises of Nayagarh Sub-Division.
ii) Khurdha District Comprises of Khuradha and Bhubaneswar Sub-Division
and
iii) Puri District Comprises of Puri Sadar Sub-Division only.
TOPOGRAPHY
The whole of the district may be divided into two dissimilar
natural divisions
i) The littoral tract
ii) The level alluvial tract
i) The littoral Tract-: The strip of the country
lies between the alluvial and the Bay of Bengal. It assumes the
form of a bear but sandy ridger which stretches along the sea- shore
for the full length of the District , Varying from 6.5 Km. to a
few hundred metres in with . Accumulations of wind blown sand give
rise to ridges parellel to the coast. It forms the dividing line
between the Chilika lake and the ocean
ii)The Level Alluvial tract
This level of alluvial region is full of villages and rice fields,
, watered by a network of channels, through which the water of distributaries
of the most southerly branch of Mahanadi , find their way to the
sea. There is no hill in Puri District except a small cultivate
land are under plough. Generally biali or autumn rice , sarada or
winter rice and dalua or spring rice these three types of
rice are cultivated.
Sea-coast Bays
The length of the sea-coast of the district of Puri is nearly 150.4
km. Sandy ridges are found along the sea-coast which stretch into
the diostrict Jagatsingpur and Ganjam . One such sandy spit divides
the lake Chilika from Bay of Bengal . These sandy ridges and dunes
are formed by the strong monsoon currents which blow over the country
for nearly 8 months of the year . The ridges vary from about 7 km
to a few metres in width and have prevented most of the rivers of
the district from finding their way into the ocean.
Island
No Island is found in the coastal waters of Puri , but the Chilika
lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a group of Islands.
Port
Puri is endowed with no natural harbour nor its coast is suitable
for any artifitial one.
River system
All the rivers of Puri distict have a common characteristics . In
the hot weather they are beds of sand with tiny streams or none
at all , while in the rains they recieve more water than they can
carry .Generally all rivers are distrributaries of Mahanadi
rivers.
1) Kushabhadra
2) Daya
3) Bhargabi
4) Kadua
5)Prachi
1) Kushabhadra- A branch of Kuakhai river starts
from Balianta meets Bay of Bengal at the shrine Ramachandi , 15
miles east of Puri dhanua ande its tributary mugei joins with Kushabhadra.
2) Daya-A branch of Kuakhai river falls in Chilika lake . Two small
rivers enter the Daya, the Gangua and the Managuni
below Kanas. An important problem in connection with dayais that
the Chilika lake at its outfall is silting up.
3) bhargabi - A branch of Kuakhai meets the Bay
of Bengal after breaking up into numerous branches in the last two
and half miles of its course.
There are four main branches all taking off from the left
bank.viz. Kanchi , the east Kania , the Naya nadi and
the South kanchi falls in Sarlake; and by various channel the first
three are interconnected and finally join the Suna munhi
river which falls into Bali Harchandi and ultimately to the Bay
of Bengal via the mouth of Chilika. The South kania gets lost in
the marshes on the western shore of Chilika.
There are two small rivers Ratnachira and Nuna falls in Bhargabi
and Daya respectively.
Kadua -It is a Monsoon stream which falls into
Prachi.
Prachi- It is the branch commencing from Puri and
Jagatsinghpur district . It has the origin near Kantapara on Cuttack-Gop
road and passing through the village of Kakatpur fall in Bay of
Bengal.
Devi-It is branch of Kathajori .It runs into
Puri district near the extreme east forming numerous branches.
Lakes and Tanks
The Chilika lake
The Sar Lake
Tanks
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