Overview
Bargarh district is an administrative district in the western part of the Indian state of Odisha. It was carved out of the erstwhile Sambalpur district on 1 April 1993 as part of a state-wide reorganisation that increased the number of districts in Odisha. The district takes its name from its headquarters town, Bargarh, which lies on the banks of the Jeera river.
Bargarh is known for its extensive paddy cultivation supported by the Hirakud canal system, and for the annual Dhanu Yatra, an open-air theatrical enactment held in and around Bargarh town that is among the largest such festivals in India.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Odisha |
| Region | Western Odisha |
| Headquarters | Bargarh |
| Formed | 1 April 1993 |
| Parent district | Sambalpur |
| Major language | Odia (with Sambalpuri/Kosli widely spoken) |
| Major river | Mahanadi (with Jeera and Ong as tributaries in the area) |
Geography
Bargarh district lies in the western plateau region of Odisha. It is bounded by the state of Chhattisgarh on the west, by Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts on the north and east, by Subarnapur district on the south-east, and by Balangir and Nuapada districts on the south. The Mahanadi flows along the eastern boundary and is impounded upstream by the Hirakud Dam, whose left-bank canal system irrigates much of the district. The Gandhamardan hill range, in the southern part of the district, is significant for its forests, medicinal plants and cultural associations.
Administration
The district is part of the Sambalpur revenue division. For administrative purposes it is divided into sub-divisions, tahasils and community development blocks, with Bargarh, Padampur, Bhatli, Barpali, Attabira, Bijepur, Sohela, Bheden, Ambabhona, Jharbandh, Paikmal and Gaisilet among its principal blocks. The district has urban local bodies including the Bargarh and Padampur municipalities, along with several notified area councils. In the Lok Sabha it forms the core of the Bargarh parliamentary constituency.
Economy
Agriculture is the mainstay of the district's economy, with paddy as the dominant crop owing to assured irrigation from the Hirakud canals. Bargarh is often referred to as a "rice bowl" of Odisha and hosts a number of rice mills. Other crops include pulses, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane. Handloom weaving, particularly the production of Sambalpuri and Bomkai-style cotton and silk sarees in centres such as Barpali and Sohela, is an important traditional industry. Cement manufacturing, based on local limestone deposits, is also present in the district.
Culture
The most prominent cultural event of the district is the Dhanu Yatra, held every year between Pausha Shukla Ekadashi and Magha Shukla Saptami. During the festival, the town of Bargarh and nearby Ambapali village are converted into the mythological kingdoms of Mathura and Gokul, with episodes from the life of Krishna, the marriage of Devaki and the rule of Kansa enacted across an open-air stage that spans several kilometres. The festival is recognised as one of the largest open-air theatrical performances in the world.
Other cultural elements include Sambalpuri folk music and dance, the Nuakhai harvest festival observed widely in western Odisha, and the pilgrimage centre of Nrusinghanath at the foot of the Gandhamardan hills, which attracts devotees particularly during Baisakh Purnima.
Demographics and language
Odia is the official language of the district. The Sambalpuri (Kosli) form of Odia is widely used in everyday speech, folk literature and music. The population includes a significant proportion of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes alongside other communities, with Kondh, Binjhal, Gond and Saora among the tribal groups present in the district.
Timeline
- Pre-1993: The area forms part of the larger Sambalpur district under successive administrative arrangements.
- 1 April 1993: Bargarh district is constituted as a separate district during the reorganisation of districts in Odisha.