Ganjam News

Handicraft exhibition brings artisans from 16 states to Berhampur

BERHAMPUR: Artisans from 16 States and different parts of Orissa are taking part in the grand handicrafts festival being held at the St. Stephens' ground in Berhampur city. From the applique-works of Orissa to carpets from Jammu and Kashmir, from brass and bell metals from Uttar Pradesh to leather works from Punjab the Gandhi Silpa Bazaar has them all on display and sale. Around 150 artisans from various states of India have participated in the 10-day fair, which is a platform to display and sell exquisite handicraft items from across the country. It is being organized by the Society for Rural Advancement and Democratic Humanitarian Action (SRADHA) and sponsored by Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), ministry of textile, Central government. SRADHA is holding similar national ‘crafts mela' in the city for the fourth time. “Earlier SRADHA used to organise the All India Crafts Bazar and due to its success this crafts mela is being organised on a grander scale ”, said project coordinator of SRADHA, Chandramani Pradhan. "The Slipa Bazar would encourage the craftsmen to improve their skills and give them a new impetus to work harder," said Mr Pradhan. Some expert artisans will also display their techniques at the fair. Some will also launch new products and designs the organisers informed. Last year similar crafts mela organised in the city by SRADHA had also drawn a large crowd. In 2010, total transaction during the mela was over 90 lakh rupees so there is hope to have a better market this year and total transaction may exceed one crore rupees, said Mr Pradhan. One hundred and fifty artisans are taking part in this large handicraft fair. Most are family units. Both youngsters and the elderly persons of these artisan families have come over to display their skills and sell their products. Like past years there is a large demand for carved wood furniture from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and carpets from Kashmir. There is ample display of colourful dress materials, bangles and other decorative items for women that range from bangles from Muradabad to hand woven pattu sarees from different parts of the country. Visitor Pranita Das says she was astonished by the purse friendly price of these attractive handicraft items. “At least we are sure of their genuineness,” she said. The organisers have also instructed the artisans not over price and not to get involved in bargaining with customers. This fair has something for everyone, said Wasim Ahmed, a wood carver from Saharanpur who is participating in this festival.

Source: The Hindu, Times of India

First convocation ceremony of project Gyandeep held in Army Air Defence College

First convocation ceremony of project Gyandeep of ‘Army Air Defence' was held at the Army Air Defence College (AADC), near Berhampur.

Associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates of merit were awarded to 521 serving soldiers of ‘Army Air Defence College' during the ceremony by Lt. Gen Kuldip Singh, commandant of the AADC. For project Gyandeep, Indian army and Indira Gandhi National Open University had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). It was aimed at empowering the soldiers through education and to provide them opportunity for second career option. This project also provides recognition to the education undertaken by a soldier during his service in the army. The MoU with IGNOU also enables educational certification of soldiers within the parameters laid down for community colleges. It also recognizes the in-service training taken up by the soldiers. All regimental centres of Indian Army have been registered as community colleges under Project Gyandeep.

These Army-IGNOU community colleges including the one at AADC function as autonomous bodies. In 1979, Government of India sanctioned the establishment of Air Defence and Guided Missile School and Centre at Gopalpur, which was inaugurated on Oct 30, 1984 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This school became fully functional in November 1989. This institute has now been rechristened AADC. Majority of the medium and short range weapons used for air defence by the Indian army including surface to air missiles are fired at the firing range of the AADC.

Courtesy: The Hindu  

Naveen promises Unitary University status for Khallikote College

BERHAMPUR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while addressing a gathering on the occasion of the annual function of the Khalikote Autonomous College, stated that the longstanding expectation of the local people to make the college a Unitary University would be fulfilled very soon. This came in response to the Students’ Union of the college submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister with 15 demands, including immediate posting of teaching staff, transfer of the OSRTC land to the college and declaration of the college as a Unitary University. Demands were also made by the legislators and parliamentarians from the region present on the occasion to transform 135-year-old Khallikote autonomous college of the city into a unitary university. 
Besides the Chief Minister, state Revenue Minister Surya Narayan Patra, Minister for Higher Education Debi Prasad Mishra, Minister for Mass Education Pratap Jena, Aska MP Nityananda Pradhan, Berhampur MP Siddhant Mohapatra, Berhampur MLA RCC Patnaik, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy attended the function. Eminent citizens of the City, local leaders, student bodies including the students' union of the College demanded the Chief Minister to initiate the process to make this historic Institution a unitary university.
Source: The Pioneer, The Hindu

Berhampur plays host to National Telugu meet

• The first five conferences were held in Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai before it was decided to organise the sixth one in Berhampur, which, along with the neighboring southern Orissa regions, has a sizeable Telugu population.Around 40 per cent population of Berhampur, located close to Andhra Pradesh and once part of erstwhile Madras Presidency, are Telugu speaking.
• Naveen Patnaik mentions names of V.V. Giri, Kota Harinarayan Rao and U.Lakshmana Rao as worthy sons of Berhampur.
• Former prime minister P V Narsimha Rao won the Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency in 1996.

BERHAMPUR: An initiative to make the Telugu-speaking people, who are residing outside Andhra Pradesh, to interact and know about their language, literature and culture has brought the community’s annual meet to Berhampur in Orissa. The sixth all-India Telugu conference was inaugurated in the city yesterday. It is being organised jointly by Poti Sriramulu Telugu University, Mandali Venkat Krishna Rao (MVKR) International Telugu Centre of Andhra Pradesh in coordination with Andhra Bhashabivardhini Samajam Berhampur and other Telugu organisations of Orissa. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who inaugurated the conference, hoped that the conference would strengthen the cultural ties between the two states. “Orissa, the land of Lord Jagannath, advocates equality for all. The Telugu community in Orissa, especially in the southern region have contributed significantly to the economic and cultural growth of our state. Today there are many households in Orissa who celebrate both Oriya and Telugu festivals with equal enthusiasm. Berhampur being in the forefront and contributed significantly in developing the blend of culture,” he said. Delivering the inaugural address at the thee-day AITC at the City High School Grounds, he said Berhampur alone had contributed great leaders like the former President of India, V.V. Giri, Russian language expert Uppala Lakshmana Rao and aerospace scientist Kota Harinarayana, are among the Telugus of Berhampur who have left an indelible mark in the national scene and made Berhampur and Orissa proud, he noted..“ About 50 per cent of the 16 crore Telugu people live outside Andhra Pradesh and there are 40 lakh of them in Orissa who are contributing to its economy and culture,” he said, adding that it was only appropriate that the conference was being held in Orissa. Naveen lauded the organisers for holding the conference outside AP and trying to bring all Telugu-speaking on one platform. Andhra Pradesh Principal Secretary of Tourism and Culture, S. Chellappa, announced that the State would release Rs.10 lakh to Prakasam Pantulu Hall of Andhra Bhashabhivardhani Samajam in Berhampur. He also invited Telugu scholars and personalities from Berhampur to participate in the World Telugu Conference to be held in Tirupati this year. The function was chaired by Vice-Chancellor of PSTU A. Bhoomaiah. Earlier, organising committee chairman P. Satyanarayana welcomed the gathering.

Source: The Telegraph & The Hindu

Silk city Berhampur gets new park for children

BERHAMPUR: The Biju Patnaik Sishu Udyan, situated at the Courtpeta Square here, was formally opened for public today by the state urban development minister Badri Narayan Patra. The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) is managing the Biju Patnaik Sishu Udyan constructed at a cost of Rs 21.74 lakh said chairman of the BDA, Kailash Rana. “Though it is a children’s park, is not meant for the use of children only. People of all age groups can visit the park. No entry fee for the Biju Patnaik Sishu Udyan Park would be charged,” he said. The park, spread over three acres of land, will be maintained by the Berhampur Development Authority. In 2001, the Berhampur Municipal Corporation demolished a shopping complex at the spot, which was constructed illegally by a private party. However, it took about 10 years for the authority to develop the spot as a park. “The locality did not have any parks. We had to go to a park at Corporation Road, which is about 6-km away. So, we were eagerly awaiting for the park. But, we are not happy with the present infrastructure at the park,” said Bunti and Bobblu, both students of Class V in Xavier School, Berhampur. We have to play cricket and badminton on roads at Bidya Nagar. If the park develops it further, we would be able to play outdoor games there,” they said. Nehru Park at Hillpatna, situated on the Railway Station Road and maintained by the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC), provides a section for the children. But the equipments at the park are considerably damaged. Nehru Park is one of the oldest park in Berhampur which was constructed when Chandra Sekhar Sahu was trhe chairman of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation. “On the other hand, the Biju Patnaik Park at Corporaton Road, spread over seven acres of land, is maintained by the Berhampur Development Authority. It has a musical fountain, a floating mountain, a beautiful landscape and boating facilities for children. Local people frequently visit this park to spend their evenings. There is a nominal entry fee for visitors. But entry is free for children below five years,” sources said. The BDA is planning to develop another park at Bedabandha in Gosaninuagaon at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore. “We would provide boating facility there and it would be a big park,” said the BDA chairman.

Source: The Telegraph

Preparations in full swing for national Telugu conference in Berhampur

Naveen Patnaik, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy to attend the conference

BERHAMPUR: Preparations are in full swing for the sixth all-India Telugu conference to be held in Berhampur city from February 4. The conference is being organised jointly by Poti Sriramulu Telugu University, Mandali Venkat Krishna Rao (MVKR) International Telugu Centre of Andhra Pradesh in coordination with Andhra Bhashabivardhini Samajam and other Telugu organisations of Berhampur and Orissa. The three-day conference will be held at City High School grounds. Some 1,000 delegates from all over the country are expected to attend the conference. On Sunday, coordinator of the national conference D. Muniratnam Naidu arrived in the city to monitor the preparations. An office for the conference was opened on the premises of the samajam complex. Secretary of the local organising committee R. Suryanarayana said the inaugural ceremony would be attended by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and others.

Source: The Hindu

Comprehensive Development Plan for Berhampur on the anvil

Berhampur Municipal Corporation will soon have its own master plan after a gap of four decades. The Town and Country Planning Organisation (TCPO) under Union Urban Development Ministry is preparing a comprehensive development plan (CDP) for the proposed ‘Greater Berhampur’ mooted by Orissa government which is likely to be ready in next few months. The CDP for Greater Berhampur would comprise a total area of 317 square km which is expected to have a population of close to one million. The present CDP is being prepared keeping in view the development of greater Berhampur till the year 2031. The area under greater Berhampur will include the urban centres of Berhampur, Gopalpur and Chatrapur and some adjoining villages between them.

Source: Dharitri, BMC, Urban Orissa

Autos to hit newer areas in Berhampur soon

BERHAMPUR: The residents of Berhampur will soon get to enjoy autorickshaw services that will be introduced in select routes across the city. The Berhampur Development Authority (BDA) has conducted a survey and identified eight routes for the plying of autorickshaws. “The BDA is very much interested to implement the scheme. Though no specific date has been finalised to launch the scheme, we are planning to convene a meeting with the office bearers of the autorickshaw drivers/owners association soon,” said BDA secretary Sangram Sekhar Panda.“The BDA would provide parking slots for these autorickshaws at New Bus Stand, Old Bus Stand and other important places. No unlicensed autorickshaws would be allowed,” said Panda. The routes identified for the auto service are Railway Station to New Bus Stand via Kamapalli, Aska Road First Gate to New Bus Stand via Gate Bazar, Railway Station to New Mango Market via Bijipur Tank Road-Gandhi Nagar-Sub Registrar Office-Prem Nagar and Andhapasara Road, Railway Station to Sub Registrar Office via Khaspa Sahi and Haradakhandi, Aska Road First Gate to Courtpeta Junction via Big Bazar-Sana Bazar-Corporation Road-Gate Bazar Junction-City Hospital Road-Utkal Ashram Road-Tata Benz Square-Kamapalli and Courtpeta, Amabapua to New Bus Stand via Courtpeta, Luchapada to Haladiapadar via Gate Bazar Junction-City Hospital Road-Bijipur Tank Road-Gosaninuagaon and Haldiapadar, Courtpeta Junction to Engineering School Square via Kamapalli-Railway Over Bridge-Jail Road-Lanjipalli main road-Industrial Estate and Engineering School Square, according to BDA sources. At present, about 400 autorickshaws are plying in the city out of which 100 autos will be a part of the regulated auto service plan. These autos would be painted in a different colour to have a distinct look. They would run from 5.30am to 1.30 pm and again 2pm to 10pm, BDA sources said. The minimum fare would be Rs 5 and the maximum Rs 15. The name of the routes and the numbers of the autorickshaws would be displayed in hoardings at different places along the eight routes. The auto service in the city at present is not organised. The operators of autorickshaws that run on petrol have organised themselves and formed Berhampur Auto Tempo Chalaka Sangha (BATCS). They park at old bus stand, near the new bus stand and near the railway station.

Source: The Telegraph

Ganjam folk culture at its festive best

Blowing conch shells, 20 folk dancers from Ganjam took part in CWG opening ceremony and won distant hearts

BERHAMPUR: Folk art is on a roll. With cultural festivals being staged all over the state, the spotlight is back on folk artistes. The most sought dance in almost all the festivals is jodi sankh dhwani (twin conch blowing) from Ganjam district. Since blowing of the conch is auspicious at the beginning of any event, all festival committees are inviting conch blowers from Ganjam. Blowing of ‘jodi sankha’ was very much a part of the ‘Rhythm of India’ part of the Common Wealth Games opening ceremony. Besides blowing the twin conch, the blowers, attired in saffron, dance to the rhythm of changu and mahuri. There are around 200 groups comprising more than 1,500 conch blowers. They are also invited to festivals outside the state. "After staging our dances at Keonjhar Mahostav, which kicked off on Tuesday, we will be heading for Delhi on Thursday to participate in another festival," said Tulu Raula of Gayatri Jugala Sankh Dhwani of Tanganapalli village. Besides conch blowing, a dozen-member group from Tanganapalli will stage ranapa, chadeya and dandia, other popular folk dances from Ganjam, at the Mayurbhanj Mahotsav. Members of Subhashree Folk Dance Kala Kendra, Narendrapur, who performed at Paraba, the annual cultural festival of Koraput on Monday, is preparing to go to Delhi to participate at the trade fair in the first week of next month. Apart from Parab, the troupe also showcased its artistry at the Puri Beach Festival, Bargarh Dhanu Yatra, Bolgarh Festival in Nayagarh, Nirakarapur Utsav in the last one month, said its leader Rajendra Patra. Patra, who started his career in folk dance at the age of nine, has performed in eight countries. He has visited Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Dubai in 1995 and in 2000 he went to Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore. “I was very fortunate to have been a part of Bhagaban Sahu’s group for 25 years,” said Patra, who formed his own troupe five years after the death of Bhagaban Sahu. “The activities of the folk artistes in Narendrapur attracted me towards this form of art since my childhood,” said Patra, who is a graduate.Source: Times of India & The Telegraph

‘Mahanagar Mahotsav' comes to an end

BERHAMPUR: The week long ‘Mahanagar Mahotsav' concluded in the city with a record 400 artistes from 11 organisations taking part in the cultural programme on the last day. This cultural festival was held at the Khallikote autonomous college stadium to promote local cultural talents. It also included a trade fair. On the concluding evening a seminar was held on the topic ‘need for the formation of a special south Orissa development council'. The speakers of this seminar advocated the need for unity among the people and organisations of south Orissa. “Without this unity the voice of south Orissa is not being heard by the government machinery”, they alleged. A long cultural show that continued till night started after the seminar. A large crowd had gathered to enjoy the performances by local artists. There were many budding artists who performed on stage for the first time in their life. Troupes from cultural organisations of the city like Anwesha, Murchhna, Jhumar, Jatiya Sangeet Kala Kendra, Pranaya Dance group etc enthralled the audience. Magician S.Kumar provided a different flavour to the show with his mind boggling tricks on stage. The artists were overjoyed with the response of the audience. Local artists of Greater Berhampur, which includes the Silk City, Gopalpur and Chatrapur, excelled in the Mahanagar Mahotsav, which was held on the Khallikote College ground here for the first time. “Though the recently concluded Gopalpur Beach Festival and the Ganjam Mahotsav at Berhampur gave ample chance to artistes from across the state and beyond to showcase their talents, many budding local artistes are still deprived of a platform to display their skills. Our sole aim is to highlight these local artists,” said Gopal Patnaik, secretary of Mahanagar Mahotsav Organising Committee.

Apart from cultural programmes, the organisers held discussions on separate topic concerning local issues on each day. The topics discussed on various days included “A review on the formation of Greater Berhampur”, “The possibilities of the development of tourism sector and preservation of the culture in Ganjam”, “Development of mass education system”, “The expansion of the geographical limits of Berhampur Municipal Corporation and the health services”, “Necessity of a third drinking water project for Berhampur” and “Necessity of Southern Development Council”. The organisers also gave “Bhanja Yuva Samman” to the dancing star Hari Har Das of Berhampur. Ganjam zilla parishad chairman Kamraju Sethi declared that Mahanagar Mahotsav would be organised on January 12, 2012 at the same venue. “We are overwhelmed with the support of the people as well as the local artists,” he said. As Hari Har was unable to present here to receive the award in person he would be awarded the prize later in a convenient date and venue, said the organisers. Such award would be awarded every year to an outstanding youth of the region who has glorified the name of this region in national and international arena. 

Sources: The Hindu, The Telegraph

The Dancing Engineer from Berhampur

Following essay published in the OPEN Magazine (03 January issue) & authored By Sohini Chattopadhyay

A self-taught dancer, Harihar Dash is the boy you can’t take your eyes off in a jazzy new TV commercial. Open traces the unreal career graph of the engineer from Berhampur.

Even if you mute AR Rahman’s funk, it is difficult to peel your eyes off the boy in the green shirt. Indeed, you marvel at the pretty young girl’s resolve as she turns away, sadly it has to be said, from that boy with the liquid moves in the new commercial for a telecom service. Such is the spell cast by 25-year-old Harihar Dash, an electronics and telecommunications engineer from the town of Berhampur in Orissa, who has never had a dance lesson in his life. This might well be the unreal life graph of many a reality show contestant in India, from unnoticed-gawky-talentedness to YouTube stardom, but almost none of these shooting stars has made it in the obvious, splashy, impossible-to-ignore way that Dash has.

It all started, as many of these crazy stories do, with a man called Michael Jackson. “Smooth Criminal, I love that song,” says Dash, in confident English that takes me by surprise. Berhampur or not, he could be the fuzzy-haired, capri-clad, indisputably cool boy who lives above my South Delhi apartment. “I started dancing to Smooth Criminal in front of my mirror after my matriculation exams. I love Michael, I like Black and White (sic) too, but Smooth Criminal is my favourite dance number,” he says. “I would dance by myself in front of the mirror. There were no dance schools in Orissa, there still aren’t any probably. And my parents would never pay for dance class.” Dash kept dancing, though, graduating from Michael Jackson to what he calls ‘popping and locking’. “I was crazy for popping and locking,” he says. What’s that, I ask. “They are hip-hop and street dancing moves,” he explains happily, as if I were a particularly attentive student. “I read up a lot on the internet and learnt that popping originated in the 1970s from a man called Sam Soloman who founded a band called the Electric Boogaloos.” In the absence of formal training, Google and YouTube became his gurus. “I saw some Japanese poppers on YouTube. They were awesome. This is a form of dance called animation popping. I watched and downloaded loads of videos, started practising, and realised that I could actually do this stuff.”

Dash’s parents, though, were not impressed. “They wanted me to be a doctor or engineer. I too thought dancing was only a hobby and I’ve always been a serious student. I sat for all the entrance tests, got through and enrolled for a BTech in electronics and telecom at the Biju Patnaik University of Technology,” he says. “I never bunked class,” he adds earnestly, “I worked hard on my studies. I was quite good, actually, and I enjoyed my course. At the time, I thought I would graduate and get a job like my parents expected me to. I danced at college functions. I represented my college at inter-college meets. And for three years in a row, I was university champ. There are more than 80 colleges in the university, so that got me thinking: maybe I could think of doing something with my dance. Some of my friends said I should try out for the reality shows.”

His parents wouldn’t hear of it, though. “They have never supported my dancing,” he says drily, “and they were dead against the idea. Finally, I cut a deal with them. I would try the reality shows for a year and if it didn’t work out, I would get a job. I had to convince them but they agreed.”

“First, I tried out for Dance Premier League on Sony TV. I made it to the east zone final. Next was Dance India Dance, where I was in the top 57. These shows were a good platform but I didn’t make it to the final stages where you really get personal attention from the choreographers and get noticed by the judges. My year was almost up and my parents were asking me to look for a job. Then came the audition call for India’s Got Talent,” he says dramatically.

This, clearly, was the big one. Log on to YouTube, and a search for Harihar Dash will throw up over 200 results. Most of these videos are from his performances on the reality show India’s Got Talent and have registered thousands of ‘views’. “I had been working on my moves when the call came, and by then I had added a crucial element to my dance: Bollywood tadka. I did my popping and locking to the song Mar Jawaan from Fashion, and one-and-a-half-months passed in a blur. I made it to the finals and stood fifth out of nine contestants.” “Before I entered India’s Got Talent, I had five friends on Facebook. Now, I have had to open another account because you can’t have more than 5,000 friends on Facebook. Once, I didn’t check my mail for five days and I had 977 friend requests pending,” he chuckles unselfconsciously.

It was the YouTube videos that got Dash noticed. Adrian Miller, chief creative officer of J Walter Thomson, New Delhi, who made the ad, says, “We knew we wanted a performer for the role, but we weren’t sure what type. We scoured YouTube looking for the right person and we found Dash dancing in India’s Got Talent.” Airtel’s CEO Sanjay Kapoor too noticed Dash on YouTube. “One day, I got a call from a girl from JWT in Delhi who said they wanted me to shoot for an Airtel ad. I had no idea what JWT was, so I looked it up on the internet. I saw their website and realised how big they were. I called back and said yes immediately,” he recounts. “The shot was scheduled for Prague. But I didn’t have a passport and I needed one in two weeks. It was the time of pujas, and all government officials were on leave except the Berhampur SP. I pleaded with him so much that he asked me whether I was a terrorist. But he gave in finally.”

As it happened, Dash actually danced to no music at all. Rahman’s tune was not ready, and bizarre as it sounds, Dash performed in the middle of the street to the music playing in his own head. He was instructed to do a mix of popping and ballet. And he did. “We shot for two days. The wake-up call was for 5:30 am and it was freezing. My costume was just a pair of jeans and a thin green jacket. But when I started dancing, I somehow forgot the cold. But after one day, I asked them to please play some music. Even slow music would do, but it is funny to dance like that, nah?”

Airtel confirms that Dash is the sole Indian to be featured in its rebranding campaign, besides the work of AR Rahman, that is. Dash himself realised this only after he came back and Airtel held a press conference to unveil its new ad splash. “It is big, no?” he asks.

Now, this boy who never attended a dance class in his life is holding a dance workshop, which has had so many people signing up that he’s having to plan another one to accommodate them. And for that, he’s acquired a personal assistant.

Colourful Pongal in Berhampur and south Orissa

BERHAMPUR: Colourful rangoli, traditional bonfire and cultural shows marked the three-day Pongal festival, known as the mother of festivals by Telugu community in Silk City and across south Orissa. The first day of the festival was celebrated as Bhogi. With a sizeable Telugu population in this Orissa-Andhra border city, the festival is celebrated with pomp and gaiety. In some places, Oriyas also joined Telugus to celebrate the festival. "It's is the biggest annual festival of Telugu people and they celebrate it across the country in association with others," said V Satya Narayana. Besides Berhampur, Telugu dominated villages in and around Goplapur, Chhatrapur and Chikiti in Ganjam district celebrate the festival with their counterpart Oriyas. On the eve of Pongal, second day of the three-day festival, people in different localities lit traditional bonfire to mark the Bhogi. Telugu girls decorated their houses with colourful rangolis and staged the cultural shows. Several girls staged Dandia dance at Military Lines in the City in the morning of Bhogi. The girls of different ages staged the Gujarati dance. "We perform Dandia because of we believe Lord Krishnaand Radha like this dance much," said one of the performers. Bhogi is also marked the closing ceremony of Gobbi, amonth-long ritual celebrated by the female folks. Clad in new dresses, Telugus of all age groups greeted each other. They would distribute "pongal" - food prepared with the newly harvested rice, dal, jaggery, dry fruits, sugar and milk on pongal day.
Sources: PTI, OrissaBarta

Mahanagar Mahotsab gets under way

BERHAMPUR: Mahanagar Mahotsab, a cultural festival along with a trade fair, was inaugurated in the city on Wednesday evening. Local artistes of ‘Greater Berhampur’ — comprising the Silk City, Gopalpur and Chatrapur enthralled the audience at the Mahanagar Mahotsav — which was organised in the city for the first time. The week-long festival, being held at the Khallikote stadium is aimed at promoting cultural talents of the city and providing platform for local trading community to showcase their products. But, for a large section of the crowd, who are reaching out to enjoy the festival, it is an entertaining way to spend chilled winter evenings. Variety of stalls of eateries and fast food are also attracting children as well as elders. Every evening of the festival is scheduled to start with intellectual seminar on culture, heritage and burning issues of the Greater Berhampur region. The organisers said that those who performed at the Mahanagar Mahotsav did not get a chance to show their talents at the recent Gopalpur Beach Festival or the Ganjam Mahotsav in Berhampur.

“The recently concluded Gopalpur Beach Festival and the Ganjam Mahotsav showcased art and artistes from different districts and states. But still many budding local artistes could not get a chance. They feel neglected and need a platform to showcase their talents,” said president of the Mahanagar Mahotsav Organising Committee Sudhanshu Sekhar Panda. After clamouring for several years, the people of the region the state government granted municipal corporation status to Berhampur. Except for the change in its nomenclature, there is no other impressive change visible in the structure, said Panda. “Organising Mahanagar Mahotsav at this critical juncture is a step forward to highlight the formation of Greater Berhampur,” he said.“Apart from cultural programmes, we have decided to organise discussion on separate topics concerning local issues on each day to give a regional touch to the festival and remind others to stress on formation of a Greater Berhampur,” said secretary of Mahotsav Organising Committee Gopal Patnaik. The topics to be discussed include review on the formation of Greater Berhampur, potential for development of tourism sector and preservation of local culture, development of mass education system, expansion of the geographical limits of Berhampur Municipal Corporation and the health services, necessity of a third drinking water project for Berhampur and necessity of Southern Development Council. The organisers have also decided to present ‘Bhanja Yuva Samman’ award every year to an outstanding youth of the region who has glorified the name of this region in national and international arena.

Sources: The Hindu, The Telegraph

Berhampur places: Bhanjanagar

Sources: Dharitri, The Samaja, OrissaLinks

Traditional ritualistic inaugural ceremony of the grand new temple dedicated to Goddesses Tara Tarini will be held from March 03-09, 2011. This was decided at a general body meeting of the Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) which was chaired by the State Law and Rural Development Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh. The new temple on the hilltop was built as part of the measures initiated to transform the hill shrine into a major tourist destination of Orissa. The new temple is unique as it is a modern temple completely built adhering to the tenets of ancient Orissan temple architecture. It is a ‘Rekha' style temple and bears intricate carvings. Sculptor Padmavibhusan Raghunath Mohapatra was the master architect of this modern temple built up in ancient form. Its major building material was sandstone which was abundantly used in the ancient temples of Orissa. Construction of the temple started in 2003. According to TTDB secretary Pramod Panda, the finishing work of the construction is on and within next one-and-half months total construction work of the temple will be completed. The new temple has replaced the old temple of colonial era at the hill shrine. The new Rekha style temple at the hill shrine has an elevation of about 68 ft. above the hilltop. So, it is easily visible from places within a radius of 10 km from the shrine. The sandstone slabs used for the construction of the temple were procured from Ganjam and Nayagarh districts. Like the traditional temples, large black granite slabs were used as lintels for the new temple. These black granite slabs were procured from Buguda region of Ganjam district.

TTDB secretary Pramod Panda further said that the work on the new ghat road to the hill top, which is being constructed at a cost of Rs. 5 crores by the Rural Development Department is also scheduled to be completed by the end of February, 2011. Another ring road being constructed around the Tara Tarini hill is also to be completed by the time.

Source: The Hindu

GANJAM NEWS

Olive Ridley turtles arrive on time near Rushikulya near Berhampur

Project Smile India

Rushikulya is one of the biggest mating grounds of Olive Ridleys in the world

Measures have been initiated to protect these mating Olive Ridleys

At present small number of mating pairs are visible which is expected to increase

Fishing has been banned in the area where these turtles are congregating

BERHAMPUR: Rare and endangered Olive Ridley turtles have started to arrive for mating near Rushikulya rookery (about 30km from Berhampur and 30km from the famous Tara Tarini hill Shrine) in Ganjam district is considered as one of the biggest mating grounds of Olive Ridleys in the world. According to officials of the forest department they are now gathering up at a distance of seven kilometres from the coast line. At present small number of mating pairs are visible. But a large number of turtles can be seen. Mating of Olive Ridleys picks up in this area in the last week of December and January. This year these endangered marine turtles have arrived in time.

The Olive Ridleys usually start their mating in the sea near their preferred nesting coast. According to experts these rare turtles have a single mating season in a year. After the end of the mating season most male turtles usually return back leaving behind the female turtles to lay their eggs. The nesting of Olive Ridleys starts from the end of January in sporadic manner which picks up in February.

Measures have been initiated to protect these mating Olive Ridleys in the sea. Fishing has been banned in the area where these turtles are congregating. This involves the stretch of sea up to a distance of ten kilometres from the coast line of Rushikulya rookery. Extension of fishing ban area extends to ten kilometres towards the north and ten kilometres towards south of the rookery.

Illegal entry of fishing trawlers to this region is being checked through regular patrolling at sea said Berhampur Divisional Forest Officer. A team of forest officials is also monitoring the Rushikulya rookery coast line where the turtles would lay eggs after two months. They are also documenting the carcasses of turtles found on this coast to assess the number and cause of deaths of Olive Ridleys out here. DFO said this year deposition was quite good at Rushikulya river coast, which means the turtles would have a good stretch of beach to lay their eggs.

Source: The Hindu, Photo source: Project Smile India & Flickr

New and extended trains that pass through Berhampur City

Haldia-Chennai (new weekly superfast), Paralakhemundi-Puri (Earlier Palasa-Puri) and Bhubaneswar-Jagdalpur (Earlier Bhubaneswar-Koraput) trains pass through Berhampur city
BERHAMPUR: As announced in the last Railway Budget the 2755 Chennai-Haldia weekly Super Fast Express has started operation from December 9 from Chennai. The train will leave Chennai at 2.35p.m every Thursday and will arrive at Howrah at 06.10p.m on Friday. In the return direction, 2756 Haldia-Chennai weekly Super Fast Express will leave Haldia at 11.30 am every Saturday and will arrive at Chennai at 5 pm on Sunday. This train has one AC-2 tier, five Sleeper Class, six General Second Class and two guard cum luggage vans having stoppages at Ongole, Vijaywada, Rajahmundry, Vizianagaram, Berhampur, Khurda Road, Cuttack, Jajpur-Keonjhar Road, Kharagpur, Panskura and Tamluk between Chennai Central & Haldia.

Similarly, Ministry of Railways has decided to extend the services of Bhubaneswar-Berhampur-Koraput Hirakhand Express upto Jagadalpur and Puri- Berhampur-Palasa passenger to Parlakhemundi w.e.f. 18th December 2010 in East Coast Railway jurisdiction. 217 Puri-Palasa passenger which is leaving Puri at 07.50a.m and arriving Palasa at 03.25p.m will leave Palasa at 04.30p.m and will arrive at Paralakhemundi at 06.45p.m in the extended portion. In the return direction, 218 Paralakhemundi-Puri Passenger will leave Paralakhemundi at 07.45a.m and will arrive at Puri at 09.05p.m. This train will stop at Pundi, Rauthpuram, Naupada, Tekkali, Pedasana, Temburu, Ganguvada, and Pathapatnam between Palasa and Paralakhemundi. The timings of 217/218 Puri-Paralakhemundi-Puri passenger will remain unchanged between Puri & Palasa. The train will run as a special train on the flagging off day of the extended portion and the regular run will be from Puri w.e.f 19th December and from Paralakhemundi w.e.f 20th Dec’2010. 8447 Bhubaneswar-Berhampur-Koraput Hirakhand Express, which is leaving Bhubaneswar at 07.35p.m and arriving Koraput at 09.45a.m on the next day, will leave Koraput at 10.05a.m and will arrive at Jagadalpur at 12.40p.m in the extended portion. In the return direction, 8448 Jagadalpur-Berhampur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express will leave Jagadalpur at 03.30p.m and will arrive at Bhubaneswar at 08.25a.m on the next day. This train will stop at Jeypore and Jagadalpur in the extended portion. The timings of 8447/8448 Bhubaneswar-Jagadalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express will remain unchanged between Bhubaneswar and Koraput. The train will run as a special train on the day of flagging off of the extended portion and the regular run will be from Bhubaneswar on 18th December and from Jagadalpur from 19th Dec’2010.

BERHAMPUR: The department of journalism and mass communication has started the campus radio in Berhampur University. Vice-chancellor Jayanta Kumar Mohapatra officially inaugurated “Bhanjabani”. The vice-chancellor appreciated the efforts on part of the staff and students in this and also highlighted the decisive role of campus radio as to how it promotes one to be an effective communicator. He further encouraged the students to take part and gain much out of this opportunity. Third semester student Sulachana Nayak was the anchor of the day. Rajeev Lochan Rathan and Sangram Kesari Das Mohapatra, being at the desk, furnished news collected by the students. Mohapatra has also announced to set up a multimedia lab for the department by March 2011. Laxmi Narayana Rout, chairman of the post graduate council, encouraged the students to avail of the opportunity. Sunil Kant Behera, J.S. Giri Rao, Pradeep Mohapatra, Jaganmohan Mohapatra and Sanat Panda guided the students in running the campus radio.

Source: The Telegraph

Co-operative University proposed at Gopalpur near Berhampur city

Following story by Sunil Patnaik from The Telegraph            

BERHAMPUR: Berhampur Municipal Corporation, which was declared the firstmunicipality of Orissa 143 years ago, has initiated steps to construct a new building to accommodate various departments including administrative, engineering, planning, revenue, health and community welfare. “The building would be built at a cost of Rs 15 crore. Berhampur was declared as the first municipality of Orissa in 1867 and two blocks for housing the office of the mayor and commissioner, besides the office of the nizarat, were built by the British rulers then,”said mayor Siba Shankar Dash. “These two blocks would be untouched and kept as heritage structures. The present building, housing the PWD and the health department built half-a-century ago along with the mini park would be razed and we would build an attractive structure there,”he added. The architect of the proposed building, Prabir Kumar Dash, said it would be a five-storey structure with stilts and basement with parking facilities for two-wheelers and light four-wheelers. “The construction of the new building would start from January end. The green building technology to build the structure would be the only of its kind in south Orissa,” he said. The five-storey building would come up over an area of 18,200 square feet to accommodate 20 VIP rooms, more than 80 general rooms, two small conference halls of 720 sq ft each and one large conference hall of 5,100 sq ft. “We will also implement solar energy techniques. The solar cell panels would be embedded above the roof slab of the central conference hall on the fifth floor, said Dash. However, the corporation vehicles would be parked outside the campus.

Source: The Telegraph

Flying Training Institute at Berhampur takes off

Excerpts from a report by Sunil Patnaik in The Telegraph

BERHAMPUR: After Bhubaneswar, Oissa’s second flying club started functioning from the Rangeilunda airstrip near Berhampur city last week. The club accommodates 100 plus pilot trainees of the Government Aviation Training Institute (Gati), Bhubaneswar. “As the Bhubaneswar airport runway suffers from traffic congestion most of the time, the civil aviation ministry was in search of a suitable substitute and considered Rangeilunda airstrip as the best,” Capt. M.S. Mander, flight instructor in-charge of Gati, said in an exclusive interview to The Telegraph. “We have at present 100 plus trainee pilots at Gati, Bhubaneswar, and we impart aviation training for one-and-half to two years. We mainly provide training on two courses — Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Private Pilot Licence (PPL). We are now doing six-day camp here and would again go back to Bhubaneswar,” Capt. Mander said. According to this provision, if one has 200-hours of flying experience, he or she is eligible to pilot a commercial plane and it is 50 hours for a private plane. Gati had five training planes including two Cessna-172 (four seater), two Cessna-152 (two seater) and one twin engine Pipper Seneca (six seater), Capt. Mander said. Indian economy is booming and aviation sector has greater prospects. “As corporate airlines are purchasing lots of aircraft and 34 airfields are coming up in the entire country, the future of Gopalpur and the trainee pilots is very bright. There is good connectivity between small airfields and more people are travelling in plane for business purposes,” said Capt. Mander.

However, Capt. Mander stressed on the need to improve the Rangeilunda airstrip. “We have urged the district administration to extend the present runway of the Rangeilunda airstrip so that regional aircraft can come. If that could be done, Gopalpur could bet air connectivity with Calcutta, Vishakhapatnam, Hyderabad and other important places. This would help Gopalpur to attract more tourists,” Capt. Mander said. Capt. Mander had surveyed the Rangeilunda airstrip along with Wing Commander Pradeep Chakraborty and Gopalpur MLA Pradip Panigrahi on October 12. A senior pilot of the ministry of civil aviation also visited the Rangeilunda airstrip a few months ago and asked the works engineer to develop it as a visual flight rule (VFR) airstrip and to provide at least two rooms to conduct the pilot training institute. Rangeilunda airstrip is situated on 40-acres and is under the control of the public works department. “Though the runway of the airstrip is used only 8-10 times in a year, we are maintaining it regularly. The length of the present runway is 750-meter and it is ready now for the flying training institute,” said P. K. Das, executive engineer, PWD. Rangeilunda is located at a distance of around 5km from Berhampur and is adjacent to Berhampur University. The Britishers built the Rangeilunda airstrip during the Second World War.According to sources, the defence establishments at nearby Golabandha, chief minister, VVIPs and corporate executives use the runway very often to reach Berhampur and other places in southern Orissa.

Berhampur University authority had provided four quarters in the Teachers’ Colony to the PWD on rent after the civil aviation ministry had sought four residential quarters and an office building for the Flying Training Institute. “We agreed to provide the quarters on rent as per provision,” said Prof. Jayant Mahapatra, vice-chancellor, Berhampur University. “The Aviation Training Centre, Bhubaneswar, also requested us alert students of the six boys’ hostels (including Rushikulya Hostel, Bansadhara Hostel, Nagabali Hostel and Jogendra Hostel) who usually use the airstrip as a thoroughfare. Though we have our separate approach road from the hostel to the PG departments, I have already communicated the message to the hostel inmates and all have agreed not to use the runway when the flying training institute begins to function,” the VC said. But the runway is yet to be free from trespassers. Onlookers gather there to catch a view of an aircraft landing or taking off. “The obstruction on the runway must be tackled immediately,” said Capt. Mander. R.D. Kabilan from Chennai, who is a trainee pilot, is happy with the course and Gati. “We have one chief flying instructor Capt. M.S. Mander and four other Instructors including Capt. Sandip Pradhan, Capt. Sandip Hati, Capt. Sukhnaib Singh and Capt. Ashok Kumar Sanday,” he said. “Though I am far away from home, the hospitality of the people of Orissa have impressed me,” he said. Kabilian along with five other trainee pilots are presently staying at the Inspection Bungalow at Gopalpur.

Source: The Telegraph

Ganjam adjudged the best district

Collector to receive citation and award in New Delhi

Ganjam district was adjudged one of the five best districts in the country which could utilise the sojourn of ‘Red Ribbon Express' to the optimum level.

Ganjam district Collector V.K. Pandian will be receiving citation and award for it from the Union Health Minister in New Delhi. Mr. Pandian said it was an award for the people of the district who have decided to use knowledge to check the menace of HIV infection and AIDS.

It may be noted that Ganjam happens to be the most HIV infection-prone district in Orissa. As per the rate of prevalence of HIV infection, Ganjam district stands in the 14 {+t} {+h} position in the country. The Red Ribbon Express (RRE), an initiative of the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and Indian Railways during its second phase of the journey across the country reached Berhampur on May 06 evening. It remained open for the public at Berhampur railway station for two days on May 7 and 8. During these two days, more than 31,800 persons visited the Red Ribbon Express. Around 320 persons had got themselves tested at the HIV testing facility inside the train. A large chunk of them were youths.

Regional coordinator of Orissa State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) Lokanath Mishra said through the coordinated efforts of health officials, administration, OSACS, NGOs involved in AIDS, awareness work and rehabilitation of HIV positive persons the message of Red Ribbon Express could be reached out to at least 2800 villages of Ganjam district.

 ‘Gaon Kalyan Samities (GKS)' in these villages were utilised for the purpose. Each GKS sent a team of five members to the Red Ribbon Express. The team included the local anganwadi worker, Asha volunteer and elected ward member, mostly women. After returning, they took up awareness measures in their own village especially among the women who are most prone to HIV infection due to their ignorance and illiteracy.

Source: The Hindu  

GANJAM NEWS

Four new police stations announced for Berhampur city

The State Government has decided to open four new police stations for Berhampur city. This was informed by the state government in reply to an Unstarred Question of Berhampur lawmaker RCC Patniak. People of the City have welcomed the proposal for new police stations that includes one traffic police station as well which had become inevitable owing to bad traffic condition on city roads in recent times. While a new police station at Ambapua and a Traffic police station are going to start soon, police stations at Nimakhandi and Lanjipali are under active consideration of the state government. These new police stations which will come up in places under the limits of Berhampur Municipal Corporation have become necessary on account of faster rate of urbanization on the city outskirts. But, Police Commissionairate system for Greater Berhampur is yet to be accepted by the state government, demand for which is being made by the people after the city became a Municipal Corporation few years ago. 

The SAI International School, which was inaugurated in 2008 in Bhubaneswar, has plan of setting up three more schools at Berhampur,Rourkela and Balasore cities of Odisha. This was informed by Chairman of the school Bijay Kumar Sahu at a Press conference recently. “We are opening three more schools. As soon as we get lands, we will start setting up the new Schools,” Sahu said. He said his school imparts education for all-round development - mental, physical, moral- of children. Besides, the school caters to the need of extra classes for weak students and coaching for competitive examinations for diverse streams, he added. Sahu said his school adopts a method of one teacher for each 30 students. The school has won the award as the best green school for commendable resource management using alternative energy and promoting consciousness among students about energy saving.

Source: The Pioneer

Harihar Dash of Berhampur features in the new Airtel ad

Dancing from Orissa town to Prague

Things are moving fast for Harihar Dash, and they are taking him places. The 24-year-old dancer from Berhampur, a commercial town in coastal Orissa, thought he had had his most famous moment when he made it as a finalist in Colors channel’s India’s Got Talent- Khoj 2. But more was in store: he is now the face of Airtel’s latest ad, which is shot in Prague and expected to go on air on Monday.

The journey from Berhampur to Prague has been nothing short of an adventure, he says. “It all happened in such a rush, right from arranging a passport or getting a visa or the dance preparation, it was so sudden. The only thing I could say when I got to know (about selection) was ‘Wow! it’s just so unbelievable’,” says Harihar, a B Tech in electronics and communication.

For a moment, it seemed that he won’t be able to make the trip in a fortnight’s time. He had to reach Delhi for his visa but missed the flight from Bhubaneswar. Tickets for a flight via Kolkata were arranged. He was caught in traffic on way to airport and barely made it.

“It was truly an adventure but worth the effort. Harihar is fantastic,” says Rohit Ohri, managing partner at JWT, marketing communications brand working with Airtel for the ad. Agrees Airtel Head (Brand and Media) Mohit Beotra, “He didn’t have much time to prepare but did a commendable job.” The 60-second ad was shot in three days a couple of weeks ago.

There was a bit of luck involved in his selection too as, Beotra says, they were looking somewhere else when Harihar’s name cropped up. “We were looking for somebody who is a street entertainer, a juggler, fire-eater or a dancer. We were watching some tapes of a few people from London School of Dance and then Sanjay Kapoor, CEO of Bharti Airtel, suggested Harihar’s name and we saw his tapes. He was striking.”

They tracked him down but he didn’t have a passport, and they had to get a visa for him in a short time. But finally things fell in place. “My dancing style is popping and locking but the one I was required to do was a mix of popping and ballet for which I had to slow down in between and then pick pace. I was trained by some of the best,” says Harihar. “I had no plans of acting but after this ad, I would like to try my hand at it.” Also in his wishlist: travelling to Prague again — on vacation.

Source: OrissaLinks, Indian Express

In a significant decision the State Government has decided to elevate KhallikoteAutonomous College in Berhampur to unitary university status, said Higher Education Minister of Odisha Debi Prasad Mishra. A government appointed task force on higher education reforms had suggested upgrading the Khallikote autonomous colleges to university status, the Minister said while addressing a function of the Students’ Union of Khallikote College. Mishra however stressed the need to develop necessary infrastructure facilities before the second oldest college of the State was declared a unitary university. While at least 50 acre was required, Khallikote Autonomous College had only 16.74 acres of land in its possession. “There is a proposal to get another 2.50 acres from transport departments garage adjoining the college”, he said. The Minister asked the local MLAs to locate another 50 acres in the town for the college’s expansion. He also assured the students to fill up the vacant posts soon. Around 50 percent of the posts of teaching staff are vacant in the 132-year old college, where over 3,600 students are pursuing studies in 19 different departments, 15 of them having post-graduate departments. The proposal for a foot bridge from KKC to Junior college has just been approved and funds have been released for renovation of Jhansirani ladies hostel, Swami Vivekananda boys hostel of the college. Among others, Berhampur MP Sidhant Mohapatra, MLAs RC Choupatnaik, P Panigrahy, BMC Mayor SS Dash and BDA chairman Kailash Rana were present on the occasion.

Source: New Indian Express

People of Ganjam Districts have been demanding the establishment of an Agri Engineering College at Hinjilicut  near Berhampur city which is known as the agricultural bowl of Odisha. NRO Ajaya Sahu of Hinjilicut and presently a software expert working at Saudi Arab-based Resource Science Arabia Ltd (RSAL) has urged the Chief Minister to set up a college of agricultural engineering in Hinjilicut. Petitioning CM Naveen Patnaik, who represents Hinjlicut constituency, Sahu has stated that the area being an agricultural hub and vegetable feeder for the entire Ganjam district, there is a dire need for such an institution. Betel leaf of this place is famous not only in the entire State, but has a brand name of its own in other parts of the country. People of this locality depend largely on this sector for their livelihood and have their source of income mainly from these crops. In the absence of any major industry and employment opportunities and due to lack of the State’s support for agriculture and agro-based industries, people of this region are migrating in large numbers to the cotton and diamond-cutting industries in Gujarat. Hinjilicut can become a hub of agriculture and food processing industries if the State Government provides the requisite support and infrastructure, Sahu reflects the feelings of the locals in his petition. Agricultural engineering as a discipline has been gaining popularity across the country and people of the State in general and the region in particular, would immensely benefit if the State pays attention to the demand for such a college at Hinjilicut, Sahu bats. This Institute would not only be unique of its kind in the State, mushroomed with engineering colleges with conventional disciplines, but would be a step in the right direction to promote the food processing sector that remains largely untapped so far in the State, the NRO argues. The demanded college of agricultural engineering at Hinjilicut will go a long way in reviving the moribund agriculture sector in the State apart from attracting students and prospective entrepreneurs to this hitherto neglected discipline which has great potentials for job creation, he adds further. Establishment of the institution in one of the most agriculturally advanced places of Odisha like Hinjilicut would greatly benefit the people, agriculturists, students and entrepreneurs following which the State Government should consider the demand favourably, hopes Ajaya.

Source: The Pioneer

TaraTarini Hill Shrine to get a facelift

BERHAMPUR: The Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB) has decided to take up construction work with around Rs. 1.2 crore within next one year to further develop the temple complex at the hill top. This was decided at a meeting of the TTDB chaired by its president Chandrasekhar Kumar, RDC, southern division. The main temple of this hill shrine was reconstructed at a cost Rs. 2.5 crores in traditional ‘Rekha' style of Oriyan temple architecture by master sculptor Padmabhusan Raghunath Mohapatra. The TTDB has entrusted Mr. Mohapatra with the next phase of construction work on the temple complex at the hill top. The design of the construction work was finalised at a meeting by the technical committee of the TTDB. Under it, a boundary wall will be built around the temple in traditional form at a cost of around Rs. 50 lakhs. Four ‘parswa' temples will be built up at four corners of the temple complex at a cost Rs. 44 lakhs. Apart from it, a modern kitchen will also be added to the temple complex. The kitchen complex will be constructed at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs. “We have decided to complete these projects within a year and Mr. Mohapatra has also agreed to it,” said Pramod Kumar panda, secretary of the TTDB.

Meanwhile, work on the new ghat road to the hill top is also under way. The new road will be less steep and wider than the existing old road. The road is being laid at a cost of Rs. 5 crores by the Rural Development Department. Another ring road is also being laid around the Tara Tarini hill at a cost of Rs. 50 lakhs. The RDC directed the department to complete the construction of the roads by April, 2011.

The Tourism Department has also come up with plans of developmental projects for the hill shrine with Rs. 71 lakhs. Survey for it has already been complete. The TTDB has also decided to prepare a comprehensive master plan for the area around the hill shrine. A survey will be taken up in five km radius around the hill shrine soon for the purpose.

Source: The Hindu

Dharmavatar' staged in the 3rd State-level Drama Festival in Berhampur

Photo: Lingaraj Panda 

 

Play of emotions: A scene from the play ‘Dharmavatar' is being enacted at the ongoing 3rd State-level Drama Festival in Berhampur on Saturday. —

BERHAMPUR: Young enthusiasts of amateur theatre in the city were wonder stuck when stalwarts of theatre movement in the State came together to enact ‘Dharmavatar' on stage on Saturday night as part of the State-level drama festival continuing in the city.

This play was enacted by ‘New Quest Repertory ', a troupe from Bhubaneswar. Main attraction of the play were its two main actors Choudhury Bikash Das and Kishor Khandual. Mr. Das is well known in Orissa for the mega serials directed by him. He has also delved into cine direction. Mr. Khandual is one of the major directors of professional ‘Opera' troupes in Orissa.

But love of stage had compelled both of these veterans to act under a young director Nilini Nihar Nayak, who also acted in the play.

Mr. Das said for every actor stage is the best place to learn. “I am always lured by the direct contact I get with the response of my audience which is not possible in electronic mediums,” he said. Mr. Das and Mr. Khandual also proved that docility was the mark of any great actor or director as they had not hesitated to work to the tunes of their young director. The play ‘Dharmavatar' has also experienced a long span of time since its publication about 25 years ago . It was written by playwright Bijay Mishra. It is a long play of over one hour 40 minutes duration with only five male actors on stage. The other actors on stage were from young generation like Bikash Kumar Pradhan and Niranjan Acharya. Yet even in this century the play and its adept presentation could bind the audience to their seats till the end.

The play took the audience to 1857 and the dichotomy in the minds of the son of a rebel sepoy who was not able to decide whether he should betray his motherland or his father. He was on his way to Delhi from Jhansi to hand over secret documents related to plans of sepoy mutiny to save his arrested father put on death row. On his way he comes across two eccentric retired persons who enact court scenes as entertainment.

He is forced to take part in this enactment. He as well as the audience were compelled to think about the relativity of every virtue and vice in this world through the taut metaphoric dialogues.

Source: The Hindu

Deepavali wishes

Berhampur erupts in jubilation as Ravi Kumar strikes Gold at the CWG Delhi 2010

Berhampur city erupted in jubilation and people came on to the streets to celebrate with fire crackers as soon as news broke about the record breaking performance of city lad Ravi Kumar at the Common Wealth Games. Despite rains, the sports lovers and his friends thronged Ravi's house at Golapalli street immediately after the news about his victory spread to congratulate his family members. Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Governor M C Bhandare congratulated Ravi, while the Indian Olympic Association announced a cash reward for him. Ravi has not only brought glory to the town, but entire state as well as the country, said Biswanath Patra, a former weightlifter in the town. India’s K. Ravi Kumar won the gold in the men’s 69 kg weightlifting event at the Commmonwealth Games in Delhi on wednesday, setting a new Games record in the process. Members of Veera Hanuman club of Berhampur, to which Ravi Kumar belongs, celebrated by distributing sweets and greeting the crowd. Ravi Kumar broke the Games record by lifting 321 kg (146+175) and surpassed Cameroon’s Venecelas Dabaya’s total of 310kg, achieved in the 2002 Manchester Games. It is also a new Commonwealth Championships record. The 22-year-old from Orissa was always the runaway favourite having lifted a combined 307kg to win the Commonwealth title in 2009, 22kg more than his closest rival in the field Mohammad Talib of Malaysia.