Western Odisha: Difference between revisions

'''Western Odisha''' oris the western part of the state of [[Odisha]],in [[India]], extending from the [[Kalahandi district]] in the south to the [[Sundargarh district]] in the north.

Historically It'sit ahas been included within the larger region of Greater [[Kalinga (historical region)|Kalinga]]. Its territory has &been ruled by various dynastys.dynasties, including:

*[[Mahameghavahana dynasty]]:

2nd or 1st century BC to early 4th century CE. The primary source is King [[Kharavela]]'s rock-cut [[Hathigumpha inscription]].

*[[Somavamshi dynasty]]:

[[Somavamshi dynasty|Somavamshi]] King [[Janamajaya-I]] Mahabhavagupta (Circac. 882–922 CE ) consolidated the eastern part of his kingdom comprising the modern undivided Sambalpur and Bolangir districts and establisheda matrimonial relationship with the Bhauma-Kara dynasty ruling over themodern coastal modern Odisha. After Uddyotakeshari (c. 1040–1065 C.E.CE), the Somavamshi kingdom declined gradually.

After the decline of Somvamshisthe Somavamshis the area came under the [[Telugu Chodas]] for a short period. The last Telugu Choda king of south Kosala was [[Somesvara III]], who was defeated by Kalachuri king Jajalladeva-I around 1110 CE.

Jajalla-deva, a ruler of the [[Kalachuris of Ratnapura|Kalachuri dynasty]] of [[Ratanpur]] (the historical capital of Chhattisgarh), defeated the ruler of Sonpur and annexed it withto his kingdom in 1110. ItThe region was administered under the Kalachuri rulers of Ratanpur (Now in Chhattisgarh state) from 1110 to 1238.<ref>Dash, Siba Prasad, " Sambalpur Itihas ", Odisha Sahitya Academy, Bhubaneswar, 2002, {{ISBN|81-7586-083-9}}, pp. 68, 70</ref>

*[[Eastern Ganga Dynasty]]:

The last ruler of the Kalachuri Dynasty, Pratapmalla, invadeinvaded the frontiers of the Ganga territory along with his son Paramardi Dev. [[Anangabhima Deva III]], the [[Eastern Ganga]] ruler, sent a large force under the command of his able Brahman commander, Vishnu. The two forces met face to face at the Seori Narayana village in undivided Sambalpur district on the banks of the river called Bhima near the Vindhya hills and the Kalchuris were defeated for the first time in a major way by the Gangas. The Chateswara Temple Inscription of Anangabhima mentions that Vishnu terrorized the Kalachuri king so much that the latter "perceived Vishnu every where through out his kingdom."[7] Pratapmalla was taken prisoner and forced to cede the Sambalpur-Sonepur-Bolangir tracts along with parts of what is now Chhattishgarh state to the Ganga kingdom. Later, with the advice of his minister Vishnu, Anangabhima established a diplomatic and matrimonial alliance with the Kalachuris by offering the hand of his daughter Chandrika in marriage to the Kalachuri prince, Paramardi Dev. Once the alliance was secured, the Ganga forces multiplied in strength. Paramardi Dev died in the final recorded battle of [[Narasingha Deva I]]'s invasion of Bengal at Umurdan (present-day Amarda in [[Mayurbhanj district]]).

The Western odishaOdisha region is rich with minerals. Iron ore is available in plenty at Tensa and Barsuan in [[Sundargarh district]], Bauxitebauxite is available at Gandhamardan in [[Bargarh district]], Coaland coal is available in Himgir in Sundargarh district and Rampur in [[Jharsuguda district]]. Dolomite is available at Dubulabera and Kangorama in [[Sambalpur district]] and Lephripada in Sundargarh district. Graphite is available at Patnagarh and Titilagarh in [[Balangir district]]. Manganese ore is available in Balangir district. Fireclay is available at Belpahar in Jharsuguda district, Gandawara in Sambalpur district, and some places of Sundargarh district.<ref>Mohanty, Basanta Kumar, Orissa Fact File, 2005, p. 46</ref>

|Kalahandi || Bhawanipatna || 7,920 || 1,335,494(Populationpopulation in 2001) || 1,576,869 || 59.22

In addition to the ten districts listed aboveabovementioned and shown on the map, the [[Western Odisha Development Council]] includes [[Athmallik]] Sub-Division of [[Anugul District|Anugul]] District on its website.<ref name="WODC main page">[http://www.wodcOdisha.org/index.htm WODC main page]</ref>

Western Odisha is culturally influenced by several different [[cult]]s and [[religion]]s. Its history dates back to the [[Mahabharat]] and Buddhist period. Folk songs and dances of this area have been revived and recognized during the last quarter century, including ''[[Danda nata|Danda]]'' (Danda Yatra and Danda Nata), which is considered to be one of the oldest forms of variety entertainment in India, toas well as the modern "Krushnaguru [[Bhajan]]", a type of folk [[lyrics]] and songs. [[Sambalpuri language|Sambalpuri]] songs are quite popular throughout Odisha. Some hits include ''Rangabati'', ''Ekda Ekda'', ''Dalkhai'', and ''Panbala Babu''.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Music-lovers-rue-poor-standard-of-songs/articleshow/7666770.cms Current Sambalpuri Album]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121109050229/http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/04/stories/2007040416600500.htm Legendary Sambalpuri singer Jitendra Haripal]</ref>