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Puri

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For other uses, see Puri (disambiguation).
Puri
ପୁରୀ
City
The Puri beach
The Puri beach
Country India
StateOdisha
DistrictPuri
Government
 • Chairperson, MunicipalityShantilata Pradhan
Elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialOriya
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN
75200x
Telephone code06752
Vehicle registrationOD-13

Puri pronunciationⓘ (Odia: ପୁରୀ) is a city and the district headquarters of Puri district, Odisha, eastern India. It is situated on the Bay of Bengal, 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of the state capital of Bhubaneswar. It is also known as Jagannath Puri after the 11th century Jagannath Temple located in the city. Puri is a holy city of the Hindus as a part of the Char Dham pilgrimages. According to Hindu teachings, a pilgrimage of the temples of India is not considered complete without a journey to Puri.

Puri is endowed with one of the best beaches for swimming in India and is therefore also a popular beach resort, especially as it is positioned geographically so that both sunset and sunrise can be viewed from the beach.

Name

Puri, the holy land of Lord Jagannath, has many names. It is mentioned in Puranas as Srikshetra, Shankhakshetra, Neelāchala, Neelādri, Purusottama Dhāma, Purusottama Kshetra, Purusottama Puri and Jagannath Puri. The word "Puri" in Sanskrit means 'town', or 'city'[1] and is cognate with polis in Greek. It is possible that Puri is a shortened name for Jagannath Puri or Purusottama Puri. In some records pertaining to the British rule, the word 'Jagannath' was used for Puri.[2] It is the only shrine in India, where Radha, along with Lakshmi, Durga, Sati, Parvati, and Shakti abodes with Krishna, also known as Jagannath.[citation needed]

History

Puri is the site of the Govardhana matha, one of the four cardinal institutions established by Adi Shankaracharya, the others being those at Sringeri, Dwaraka and Jyotirmath.

Puri is also famous for its annual Ratha Yatra, or "Festival of Chariots", when the deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, are brought out of the temple, and placed in a chariot procession.[3] This festival occurs on various dates of the Gregorian calendar, typically in the month of July.[4]

The town is famous for its many Mathas (Monasteries of the various Hindu sects). It also houses the relics of many Hindu figures as traditionally it is seen as a holy place to die in or to be cremated. As a result, it has had a disproportionate number of widows. Like other old Hindu religious towns it has a lot of character that is difficult to be glimpsed or picked up on easily by a casual visitor.

In 1903, Sri Yukteswar established an ashram in the sea-side town of Puri, naming it "Kararashram". From two ashrams, Yukteswar taught students, and began an organization named "Sadhu Sabha." Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur, founder of 64 Sri Gaudiya Maths performed the final past-times of his life in Puri.

Among seven holy sites of India

Puri is one of seven most holy places for Hindus in India where Varanasi is considered as the holiest of the seven holy cities.

Ayodhyā Mathurā Māyā Kāsi Kāñchī Avantikā I

Purī Dvārāvatī chaiva saptaitā moksadāyikāh II

- Garuḍa Purāṇa I XVI .14

A Kṣetra is a sacred ground, a field of active power, a place where Moksha, final release can be obtained. The Garuda Purana enumerates seven sites as giver of Moksha, They are Ayodhya, Mathura, Māyā, Kāsi, Kāñchī, Avantikā, Purī and Dvārāvatī.[5]

Geography

Puri is located at 19°48′N 85°51′E / 19.8°N 85.85°E / 19.8; 85.85. It has an average elevation of 0 metres (0 feet).

The Puri Beach

Climate

Climate data for Puri
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 27
(81) 		29
(84) 		30
(86) 		32
(90) 		33
(91) 		32
(90) 		31
(88) 		31
(88) 		32
(90) 		32
(90) 		29
(84) 		27
(81) 		30
(87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 18
(64) 		20
(68) 		24
(75) 		26
(79) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		27
(81) 		25
(77) 		20
(68) 		17
(63) 		24
(75)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 10
(0.4) 		21
(0.8) 		15
(0.6) 		12
(0.5) 		54
(2.1) 		184
(7.2) 		268
(10.6) 		301
(11.9) 		243
(9.6) 		164
(6.5) 		64
(2.5) 		5
(0.2) 		1,341
(52.9)
Source: Weather2Travel

Demographics

As of 2011 India census,[6] Puri had a population of 201,026. Males, 104,267, females, 96,759, children under 6 years of age, 17,000. The sex ratio is 928. Puri has an literacy rate of 89.38.

See also: List of cities in Odisha

Transport

Puri railway station is amongst the top hundred booking stations of Indian Railway.[7]

Politics

Current MLA from Puri Assembly Constituency is Maheswar Mohanty of BJD, who won the seat in State elections in 2009. He won this seat for BJD in 2000 and 2004 and representing JD in 1995. Other previous MLAs from this seat were Braja Kishor Tripathy who won this seat representing JD in 1990, representing JNP in 1985 and 1977, Gadadhar Mishra of INC(I) in 1980.Mr Uma Ballav Rath also became the MLA in 1991 in a Bi election as a JD candidate.[8]

Puri is part of Puri (Lok Sabha constituency).[9] Current M.P of Puri is Pinaki Misra.

Gallery

  • The Rath Yatra in Puri in modern times showing the three chariots of the deities with the Temple in the background
    The Rath Yatra in Puri in modern times showing the three chariots of the deities with the Temple in the background
  • Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.]]
    Lord Balabhadra, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Jagannath.]]
  • Sea Beach
    Sea Beach
  • Sun is rising from the sea
    Sun is rising from the sea
  • Sunrise
    Sunrise
  • Waves Crashing Down
    Waves Crashing Down
  • Waves Crashing Down
    Waves Crashing Down
  • Sea
    Sea
  • Moring Sky
    Moring Sky
  • Sun is setting in the city
    Sun is setting in the city
  • Sunset view from beach
    Sunset view from beach

References

  1. ^ Klaus Glashoff. "Sanskrit Dictionary for Spoken Sanskrit". Spokensanskrit.de. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  2. ^ [Tripathy, M. M.; Puri; An article from the 'Sri Mandira' magazine published by the Govt. of Odisha]
  3. ^ "Puri".
  4. ^ Subhamoy Das. "Rath Yatra-The Chariot Festival of India".
  5. ^ The Hindu temple, Volume 1 By Stella Kramrisch, Raymond Burnier p.3. Books.google.co.in. Retrieved 2012-08-30.
  6. ^ Template:GR
  7. ^ "Indian Railways Passenger Reservation Enquiry". Availability in trains for Top 100 Booking Stations of Indian Railways. IRFCA. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  8. ^ "State Elections 2004 – Partywise Comparison for 56-Puri Constituency of Odisha". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-09-17-2010-2011-2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ "Assembly Constituencies – Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Odisha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-09-17.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puri.
  • Puri travel guide from Wikivoyage
  • www.puri.nic.in – Official website of Puri District (Government website)
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