Bargarh is a city as well as a municipality in the Bargarh district in the western most part of the state of Orissa in India. The administrative headquarters of the Bargarh District are located in this city. Bargarh is also known by the name of Baragarh. As per the 2001 India census, Bargarh has a population of 63,651. Males make up 52% of the population and females comprise 48%. The mean literacy rate of the city is 72%, higher than the nationwide mean of 59.5%. 57% of the males and 43% of the females are literate. 11% of the population is children below six years of age. The renowned Gangadhar Meher was a member of the "Meher" community of Bargarh. This industrial city is home to many cement, sugar and thread factories.
Bargarh attracts a lot of tourists every year during the `Dhanu` (Bow) festival. This festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of Lord Krishna over his despot uncle, King Kansa who had locked up his parents and compelled him to live in exile for years. The people often clothe themselves in manners dating back to that mythological period. Moreover, habitats and even rivers are addressed by classical names that find mention in the Mahabharata. According to academicians, the starting point of "Dhanu Yatra" (an open stage theatre) is not clearly known. Some say that it was widely celebrated in the 18th century while others argue that it started in the 16th century. There is ample evidence to consider that the yatra was in vogue during the British rule. "This Dhanu Yatra was started with an aim to fight the British and bind people in tradition. But when India attained freedom, the festival lost much of its glory. But then people again gathered together and to save the heritage, this theatre in eastern India was started again. Since then it has been going on again," so says Shyam Sunder Raghav, the president of the organising committee.| |
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