Western Odisha

Western Odisha is a territory in the western part of Odisha, India. It includes 10 districts: the districts of Bargarh, Bolangir, Boudh, Deogarh, Jharsuguda, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Sundargarh and Athamallick Sub-division of Angul district.

Assembly and Parliament segments

Bargarh, 5(MLA) 1(MP) Bolangir, 5(MLA) 1(MP) Boudh, 2(MLA) Deogarh, 1(MLA) Jharsuguda, 2(MLA) Nuapada, 2(MLA) Sambalpur, 4(MLA) 1(MP) Subarnapur, 2(MLA) Sundargarh, 7(MLA) 1(MP) Athamallick Sub-division of Angul district, 1(MLA)

Climate

The floral diversity and topographical variety ensure the experience of all the six seasons in this area. Western Odisha experiences five seasons prominently, namely, Summer, Rainy, Autumn, Winter and Spring. Spring season is short lived. Summer season is generally from 1 April to end of June. During summer season the climate is generally very hot and dry. In the month of May, mercury shoots above 45 °C in places like Titilagarh in Balangir district, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda and Brajarajnagar in Jharsuguda district. In other areas of Western Odisha, highest day temperature remains between 40 °C and 45 °C. Rainy season is in the month of July and August, during which, the area experiences moderate rainfall, which varies from 115 to 145 cm from place to place. In winter season, which is generally in the months of December and January, minimum temperature comes down to 4 °C in places like Daringbadi in Kandhamal district and Tensa in Sundargarh district. Sometimes, these two places experiences mild snowfall during night. Other areas remain moderately cold, with minimum temperature varying from 9 °C to 15 °C. In the last few decades, western Odisha has suffered from repeated drought.

Natural resources

Western odisha region is rich with minerals. Iron ore is available in plenty at Tensa and Barsuan in Sundargarh district, Bauxite is available in Niyamgiri, Gandhamardan in Bargarh district, Khariar in Nuapada district and Baphlimali in Rayagada distinct. 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 Nuapada and Balangir district. Fireclay is available at Belpahar in Jharsuguda district, Gandawara in Sambalpur district and some places of Sundargarh district.

Demographics

Population

District	District Headquarters	Area (km2.)	Population 1991 Census	Population 2011 Census	Literacy Rate 2011
Balangir	Balangir	6,575	1,230,938	1,648,574	65.50
Bargarh	Bargarh	5,837	1,207,172	1,478,833	75.16
Nuapada	Nuapada	3,852	469,482	606,490	58.20
Sambalpur	Sambalpur	6,702	809,017	1,044,410	76.91
Subarnapur	Sonepur	2,337	476,815	652,107	74.42

(Source: Population of India, 2011)

In addition to the five districts listed above and shown on the map, the Western Odisha Development Council includes Anugul on its website.

Western Odisha contains 24.34% of the total population of the Odisha state. Tribal populations comprise 40% of Western Odisha's total population. The Agharias, a community from north-western Uttar Pradesh, make up close to 10% of the population in the area. 23.38% of Odisha's Scheduled Caste population and 33.9% of its Scheduled Tribe population reside in this region. The area supports 29.75% of the Odisha state's economically backward people, 25.8% of its cultivators, 27.52% of its agricultural labourers, 32.18% of its household industrial workers, 25.36% of its workers overall, 30.54% of its marginal workers and 22.87% of its non-workers.

Art and culture

Western Odisha is culturally influenced by several different cults and religions. 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 (Danda Yatra and Danda Nata), which is considered to be one of the oldest forms of variety entertainment in India, to the modern "Krushnaguru Bhajan", a type of folk lyrics and songs. Sambalpuri language songs are quite popular throughout Odisha. Some hits include Rangabati, Ekda Ekda, Dalkhai, and Panbala Babu.

Rangabati

Rangabati is a modern composed Sambalpuri song inspired by folk music, written about 1975, which enjoyed international popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. It was sung by Jitendra Haripal and Krishna Patel. The music was composed by Prabhudutta Pradhan and the lyrics by Mitrabhanu Gauntia. The song was recorded and broadcast by All India Radio, Sambalpur

Indoor games of Western Odisha

Indoor game playing in Western Odisha has waned and many of the games formerly played are now extinct, though the following two games are still played, albeit only by some of the tribal villagers, and these two are also on the verge of extinction.

• Chhaka is an indoor game popular among women of the Sambalpuri region. It is played with 6 pieces of large-sized shell (Couri) and 16 pieces of multi-coloured wooden dots. The game is traditional enough that a complete set of "Couris’ and dots is taken by new brides to their husbands' houses after marriage.
• Ganjapa is probably named after its inventor Gajapada.

Education

• Sambalpur University, Burla, Sambalpur
• Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Burla
• Veer Surendra Sai Medical College and Hospital, Burla
• Rajendra College Balangir
• Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Rourkela
• National Institute of Technology, Rourkela
• Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur
• Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur (Basantpur near Burla)
• Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) Bargarh

People from Western Odisha

• Bhima Bhoi
• Gangadhar Meher
• Parbati Giri
• Prem Ram Dubey
• Veer Surendra Sai
• Madho Singh
• Satya Narayan Bohidar
• Jitendra Haripal
• Haldhar Nag