TRADITION AND
CULTURE OF
PURI DISTRICT
Puri is one of the
fascinating littoral district of Orissa .The Cultural heritage of Puri with its long recorded history beginning from third century B.C till
present day, The monuments and religious sanctity, way of life of the people with their
rich tradition posses emphatically to
be the cultural heart of Orissa .In deed Puri is consider cultural capital of Orissa .The
culture here is flourished with its manifold activities.
The District has the happy conglomerate of different religions,sects and faith in
course of history, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh,jains, Christian and tribals found here in the
District. The Hindu monuments of various sectors like saivism,Bishnavism, Sak ticult, Ganapatya,Mohabir
etc are found. Similarly Muslim Mosques, Christian Churches are also noticed here.
Traditional Fairs and Festivals
It is said that 13 festivals
are celebrated in calendar year relating to Lord Jagannath are,
a) Car Festival(Ratha Yatra) July
b) Chandan Yatra
April
c) Gosani Yatra
Dasahara in
Sept./Oct.
d) Sahi Yatra
for 7 days from Rama Navami
March/April
e) Mahasiva
Ratri
Feb in all the Saiva Pithas
f)
Magha mela at Konarak
on January
g)
Boita Bandan at Konark in
Oct./Nov.
h)
Harirajpur Melan
Harirajpur March
i)
Jhamu Yatra Kakatapur
May
j)
Dayana chori Ghorodia
in Pipil Block
k)
Aunla Navami
Sakhigopal in March
l)
Makar Mela Chilika Jan
m)
Bali Harachandi Mela During
Raj Festival June at Brahmagiri
n)
Anabasar Yatra Alaranath
Pitha,Brhamagiri.
o)
Siruli Mahavir Mela Panasankranti- Siruli , Sadar Block
Other Festivals for Tourists :-
1)
Konark festival - Deptt of Tourism - Govt of Orissa - 1st week of Dec
2) Konark Music & Dance Festival - Konark
Natya Mandap - February
3) Basant Utshav - Parampara
Raghurajpur -February
4) Puri Beach
Festival at Puri - Organised by Hotel & Restaurant Association
of Orissa Bhubaneswar -November
5) Sriksetra Mohoshav ,Puri - Organised by Srikshetra Mahoshav committee - April
6) Gundicha Utshav at Puri - Organised by Urreka,Puri - June
In all the festivals Odissidance folk dances
from different party of the country are staged. .
CULTURAL PROGRAM ON SECONd
SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH :-
With
the objective to encourage the young artist and to display our rich
performing art form,Cultural
programmee for two hours, in the evening of 2nd saturday
of each month is organized at the collector's conference Hall C (Near Sea bech Police Station)Puri by
Dist,Council of culture.The majestic odissi
dance,the lucid Odissi Song and enchanting
flok dances are staged in
this programmee.There is no entry fee for
viewing this programs.
DANCE &
MUSIC
Monuments
The important monuments of the District are :-
a) Jagannath
Temple Puri
b) Gundicha
Temple,Puri
c) Lokonath
Temple,Puri
d) Jambeswar
temple,Puri
e) Sapta
Matruka images near Markandeswar tank Puri
f)
Sun Temple,Konark
g) Barahi
Temple,at Chourasi,in Nimapara Block.
h) Mangala
Temple,Kakatpur
i)
Sakhigopal Temple,at Sakhigopal
j)
Amareswar Temple, at Amareswar,Nimapara Block
k) Sculpture
shed at Bishnupur,Nimapara
l)
Gramswar Temple,Terundia,Nimapara
m) Alarnath
Temple,Brhamgiri
n) Baliharachandi
Temple,Brhamagiri,Block
o) Kunteswar
Temple,Araorh,Pipil Block
p) Harihar
Temple,near Pipil
q) Shiva
Temple,Jagadalpur at Delang Block
r)
Tara image at Badatara,Gop
s)
Bayalisbati Temple,near Gop
t)
Mohabir Temple,Siruli Sadar Block
The grandeur of architecture and the crafts
maintop of the sculptures speak high of the cultural history of Puri District.
Excavated Archeological Sites
The following are the Ex
cavorted archeological Sites of Puri
District.
a) Kurum is 80 Km
away from Konarak.The excavation work conducted here reveal the remains at Buddhists
artifacts at 10 th century
A.D.
b) Manikapatana
: - It is in
Krushnaprasad block from which the remains at mediaeval
period are found .
c) Klkha
patana on Puri Konark Marine drive road where the remains of 15th century was
found.
Theatre
Anna Purna Theatre , Situated at the grand road Puri, is a pioneer institution in the field oftheatrical
performances.
Opera
Opera is a
popular mobile drama troupe is very popular in the state.
MUSEUM
a) District Museum Puri :-With a view to preserve and project our rich cultural heritage,the district Museum at Puri is functioning since
1997.It is one of the branch museum of Orissa state museum and managed by Govt of Orissa.Different
veshas of Lord Jagannath, Sculptures of various Kinds,Patta
paintings oalm leaf paintings,Handicrafts of numerous
varieties are
displayed in this museum.It is located at the station road,Puri-2.There is no entry fee for
visiting this museum.
b) Another handicraft museum is situated at Batagaon, 5 Kms formPuri
on puri Bhubaneswar road.It is managed by a Co-operative Society.
Libraries
a)Dist Library :-The
Dist library of Puri is
situated at station road and having more
than 15000 books daily News paper and
Magazines are brought to this library regularly.It is managed by dept of culture,Govt of Orissa.Anyone interested can read in this
library.There is no lending facilities.
b)PANCHASAKHA MEMORIAL HALL LIBRARY,SAKHIGOPAL :-This library is also managed by department
ofculture,Orissa.It has more than 4000 books at its stock.Monday is the weekly holidays.
To
extend library activities in rural areas, registered librariesfunctioning at different parts of
the district are encouraged withvarious distance
from Raja Ram Mohan Roy Library Foundation Calcutta
through State Govt. .
DISTRICT CULTURE OFFICE
To promote
cultural activities and to implement Govt,decisions at the grass root level relating to art and
culture,Dist Hqrs.The Dist Library Puri,Panchasakha Memorial Hall Library at Sakhigopal,the museum Puri is directly managed by this
office.Besides it provide information on different aspects of culture.Cultural programmee are organized by this office.Grants
to registered libraries,cultural
institutions,pension to artist in indecent Circumstances
are routed throughthis Office.It also keeps
liaison with Orissa Sahitya Academy,Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy. |
