Nabarangpur, Odisha, India

🇮🇳 Nabarangpur is a town, villa city and a municipality in Nabarangapur district in the Indian state of Odisha. It is the headquarters of Nabarangpur district.

Geography Nabarangpur is situated at 19.23 Degree north latitude and 82.55 degrees east longitudes. It is 582m above sea level.

Demographics As of 2011 India census, Nabarangapur had a population of 1,220,946. Males constitute 49.53% of the population and 50.47% are females.

Nabarangpur has an average literacy rate of 82.4%, higher than the national average of 74.0%.

History Early history for the region is scanty. The Mauryas were believed to have exercised some control over the region, which was under the control of Kalinga. Kharavela, who led a Kalinga resurgence, mentioned the territory as Vidyadhara and used troops for the region in his conquests. The second and third centuries saw Nabarangpur ruled by the Satavahanas, Ikshavakus and Vakatakas in succession. However by 350 CE the district was not under the control of any major power, when Samudragupta led an expedition to the region. However Nabarangpur never came under direct control of the Guptas. In the 4th or 5th century CE the Nala dynasty, with their headquarters in Pushkari near Umerkote, took control of the entire Bastar-Koraput region. The ruins of large temples and land grants indicate extensive civilizational development in the area. The Nalas fought several wars with the Vakatakas, the first of which they won handily and the second of which Pushkari was destroyed. Nala power was briefly restored by Skanda Varman, who rebuilt Pushkari, but was soon swept away by the Chalukyas. At the end of the 5th century CE, the Eastern Gangas came to control the area, but this period is little-known.

By the middle of the 9th century CE, the territory, known as Trikalinga, was now under the Somvanshi rulers of South Kosala. In 1023, Rajendra Chola conquered the entire Bastar-Koraput region, then known as Chakrakota, but was soon beaten back by the Gangas.

At this time the Chindaka Naga dynasty, attested to in the Errakote inscription, established its rule in the region starting in 945. The Telugu Chodas, who accompanied Vikramaditya VI's expedition to the region, became feudatories to them. Although the dynasty lost strength starting in 1050, descendants of the family continued to rule until the 13th century. They were replaced by the Matsyas, who may have exercised some control over Nabarangpur. In the 14th century, the Silavamshis conquered the region and patronized Jainism and Shaktism. They were later made tributary to the Golconda Sultanate.

The modern district of Nabarangpur was under the territory of the Suryavanshi kings of Jeypore, who were previously feudatories of the Gajapatis starting in the 15 century CE until the dissolution of the princely state in 1951. When the Gajapatis collapsed in 1541 following the death of Prataparudra Deva, Vishwanath Dev, ruler of Nandapur and a former feudal lord of Pratap Rudra conquered a large territory that touched Bengal in the north to river Godavari in the south and stretched up to Visakhapatanam in the east till the kingdom of Bastar in the west.

Later, Vikram Dev I (1758-1781 CE) of Jeypore appointed his second son Jagganath Dev as the zamindar of Nowrangpur. The district was thus administered as a part of Koraput. Eventually Nabarangpur subdivision was created in 1941.

Nabarangpur played a part in the freedom movement. Several people from Nabarangpur were the founders of Congress in Koraput. They participated in the civil disobedience movement launched by Gandhi starting in 1942. On 24 August 1942, a crowd of people assembled in Dabugaon to launch a procession to decide the next stage of the freedom movement. At the flooded Turi River near Papadahandi, the police lathi-charged and fired on the demonstrators, killing 19, injuring 100 and arresting 140.

After Independence, the Odisha assembly abolished all zamindaris and estates. As part of this, the undivided Koraput district, which was known as the Jeypore Zamindari, was divided into 10 anchals, 3 of which were Nabarangpur, Borigumma and Umerkote. In 1958, some refugees from East Pakistan were settled in Umerkote subdivision as part of the Dandakaranya Project. In 1991, Nabarangpur district was carved out of Koraput district.

Economy[edit] In 2006, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj named Nabarangpur one of the country's 250 poorest districts (out of a total of 640).[4] It is one of the 19 districts in Odisha currently receiving funds from the Backward Regions Grant Fund Programme (BRGF).[4] The majority of the district's population is dependent on agriculture, with 40% of the land being under cultivation. In recent years some industry has been set up in the district.

Culture[edit] Nabarangpur is well-known for its tribal culture. Some of the largest tribes are the Bhottadas and Gonds. Each of these tribes has their own language, customs and folk dances, although all understand & speak Odia. Some dances that are well-known include the Cherechera by the Bhottadas. The tribals in the district still follow their traditional religion, albeit heavily influenced by Hindu customs. Generally the tribes have certain similarities, such as totemistic clans, similar settlement patterns, and usage of mahua. Some major festivals unique to tribals of Nabarangpur include Chaitra Parab, Pus Parab and Magha Parab.

Education RCD High school is the oldest school in Nabarangpur established in 1934 for boys and Girls High School for girls. It is situated in Masjid Road in Pathan street. The school operates under Board of Secondary Education, Odisha.

Nabarangpur also has a Government Junior College for senior secondary education with Science, Arts, and Commerce streams.

Nabarangpur also has a Government Degree College offering a bachelor's degree in Science, Arts, and Commerce.

There is also a Women's College in Hirli Dongri Road, offering subjects in Arts.

Schools There is a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Chutiaguda, Nabarangpur and many schools as follows: • Bapuji Public School, • Unique Public School, • Mother Teresa Public School, • Tiny Tots Public School, • Techno Gurukul School, • Nabarangpur Public School, • Theodore Public School, • Bidyaniketan Higher Secondary School, • Eklavya Model Residential School, • Saraswati Sishu Vidya Mandir, • Municipality High School, • JELC High School. • Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan • Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya.

Colleges There are also many college in Nabarangpur: • Raghavendra College • Bidyarthi College • Utkal Institute Of Arts & Management • Government Polytechnic • Model Degree College • Sai Vinayak Jr. College.

Culture: Heritage Nabarangpur District has an ancient tradition of Art and Culture, which was predominantly displayed in the erstwhile Koraput District. Many artisans, mostly residing in a street of Nabarangpur town, carry on the age-old handicraft. They manufacture boxes, toys, sticks, chains, pedestals of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, idols of other Gods and Goddesses, pooja articles and other decorative masterpieces, which are unique in the area and testify exemplary craftsmanship. ‘Dhanya Laxmi’ (Goddess Laxmi with pedestal) is a unique craft in paddy carried on by the artisans of the Dabugaon area in the District. Earthen works of Tonda near Papadahandi also testify exquisite craftsmanship.

Languages like Odia, Bhotra, Gond, Kandha, Paraja and Hindi and are widely spoken in Nabarangpur District. Tribals of the District perform folk dance like Rinjodi, Dhemsha, Sailodi, Gond, Geet Kudia, Ghumura, Madhya, etc. Male and female tribals take part in the dance with exuberance amidst melodious song and beat of drums in the background. Toys, boxes, pedestals of Hindu Gods and Goddess, Puja Articles and other decorative masterpieces are made by local craftsmen.

Maa Bhandargharani in Nabarangpur is the presiding deity of the locality. The name signifies the preserver of wealth and protector of lives. She is also worshipped in nearby villages. Tuesdays and Saturdays are marked for special worships. Many devotees gather in the temple premises on every conceivable occasion to seek blessings of the Goddess. Maa Pendrani of Umerkote which is visited by many devotees is born out of a legend. A small village Pendra (Pendrahandi), near Umerkote, worships a pure soul named Pendrani, a married girl who was the victim of secret jealousy of her own brothers.

Festival Mondei Mondei is a local festival that is widely celebrated in the Nabarangpur District. The word Mondei is derived from the Hindi word ‘Mondi’ which means a small market. This festival is celebrated by many people worshipping a common deity among prehistoric rituals. Fair and entertainment activities with folk dances and tribal opera can be seen for the whole night of the festival. Mondei is usually celebrated after harvesting of crops. The festival is observed at different popular locations throughout the District gathering men and women of the area and far off. There are various Socio-Cultural organizations that spearhead the cultural activities of the Nabarangpur District.

Rath Yarta Rath yatra is celebrated in Nabarangpur with great enthusiasm and spirit. People from neighbor towns and villages come here and celebrate the occasion.

Durga Puja Durga Puja is also one of the most celebrated festivals in Nabarangpur. Many Durga Puja Pandals are built across the city.

Food and Cuisines Nabarangpur is known for its Odia cuisines and also for south Indian cuisines. There is a Gujarati and Rajasthani influence on food because of the numerous southern Indian, Gujarati and Rajasthani populations in the city. Many multi-cuisine restaurants have been opened in recent years, and many street food vendors operate in the city.The Famous Restaurant is Prakash Family Restaurant by Pooja Food.