Ghumura - A Popular Folk Dance Form of Kalahandi

Numbers of national recognition have been given to different dance forms such as Odishi, Chhau, Ranapa etc and in various other spheres from Orissa, but not any single recognition for Ghumura so far?
Is it because scholars of Ghumura lack political lobby or because it belongs to KALAHANDI . Ghumura is more popular than Ranapa.

Ghumura is much ahead of many other dance forms in Orissa in terms of popularity of folk dance. It is more scholarly researched, cultivated and has a history of at least thousand years.

Not to blame achievement of any other folk dance, however, despite not being suitable in terms of connectivity and distance for rest of South Orissa, the favoritism, including for RDC office, educational institutions, High Court branch etc, by various chief ministers towards their home district Ganjam in the name of South Orissa may be well established by making rest of South Orissa including undivided Kalahandi, Koraput and Kandhama—Boudh backward, neglected and marginalized in various areas that include culture too.

Ghumura is one of the most sought and leading folk dance form in Orissa. It is classified as folk dance as the dress code of Ghumura resembles more like a tribal dance, but recent researchers argue different mudra and dance form present in Ghumura bear more resemblance with other classical dance form of India and the dance is not limited to tribal only.

The dance is associated with social entertainment, relaxation, love, devotion and friendly brotherhood among all class, creed and religion in the present days and can be classified as classical dance. Traditionally this dance is also associated with Nuakhai and Dasahara celebration in large parts of South and Western Orissa.

Ghumura dance is still popularly hidden in the village level in Western Orissa, Central Orissa,South Orissa and some parts of bordering Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Kalahandi is mainly known as land of Ghumura and has taken a leading rule in popularizing and retaining its unique identity of Ghumura dance.

Ghumura dance has got the opportunity to represent the nation in various international events Delhi, Moscow, Kolkata,Andaman Nicobar and various other cities in India and Abroad.

Mainly in Kalahandi district , Mahavir club of Bhawanipatna town is more famous for its ghumura dance. This club is bring the popularity of ghumura dance in India and also in abroad .

Despite that it’s most neglected and marginalized by Government of Orissa, which is not giving equal recognition to Ghumura and itsscholars and playing politics over the matter.

Economy Of Kalahandi

The economy of Kalahandi district represents the very foundation of the industries. The economically important minerals in the district including Bauxite, Graphites, Manganese, Iron and Quartz largely facilitate the growth of industrial sectors in its core, which has supported the economy of Kalahandi. The minerals, economically exploited serve as the raw materials for the domestic industries and also are exported. Thus the huge storage of minerals supports the economy of Kalahandi dually. The mines in the post independence period are nationalized, to encourage the proper utilization of these natural resources. With the solemn aim to stop piracy and to earn more by proper export marketing, the government has initiated the nationalization program of those mines with the commencement of the plan period. However, the increasing utilization of minerals has engendered the growth of the underground and opencast mines in Kalahandi, which involve a huge local workforce in the mining sector. Thus the mining sectors shares a significant contribution to prop up the domestic financial set up of Kalahandi.

Beside the contribution of the mining sectors there are three functional large-scale industrial units that supports the industrial economy of Kalahandi namely (1) Western Sugar & Chemical Industries Ltd, Bhawanipatna at Mathura in Dharamgarh Sub-Division, (2) Konark Growers Cooperative Spinning Mills Ltd, Kesinga and (3) Orissa Regional Cooperative Oil Seed Growers Union Ltd. at Bhawanipatna.

IPICOL has signed agreement with M/s Western India Sugar and Chemical Industries Ltd. India targeting for 2500 TCR capacity sugar project in Dharamgarh Sub-division of Kalahandi with an estimated project cost of Rs.32.00 crores. The mill at the beginning, though provided employment to a huge workforce, it had not the sanction of a commercial production. Therefore, besides being supporting the domestic economy the Western India Sugar and Chemical Industries Ltd. did not participate in the export marketing. With the approval of the project by State Government in 1993, the Sugar and Chemical Industries Ltd functionally started its commercial production.

In the second phase of the plan period, the Government has decided to set up a Spinning Mill Unit of 25,000 spindles at Kesinga in the district to help in reducing shortfall yarn requirement of the State. The industry by providing employment supports the economy of Kalahandi and at the same time induces development in the Gross National Product (G.N.P) of cotton. In addition to the government schemes and programs the cotton produced under the Cotton Development Programme is some extent instrumental to prop up the cotton requirement of this proposed spinning Mills Unit.

The Oil project in Orissa mainly encompassing the oil seeds and vegetable oil project in Kalahandi has found very profitable market in the national arena. The Oil Project in Kalahandi, so far has been deciphered by the eminent economist is the major contributor of the economy of Kalahandi.

Primarily an industrial district the contribution of the agricultural sector is no less important in the financial set up of Kalahandi. The extensive region of Kalahandi, except the western hilly tract is covered with fertile soils, which encouraged the growth of the agricultural sector. The climatic condition also is responsible for the thriving prosperity of agriculture. Agriculture in Kalahandi stimulates the growth of agro-based allied industries, which support the rural economy in Kalahandi on a large scale. Moreover nearly half of the total Geographical area of Kalahandi District 4,962 Sq.Km is covered with forest, which also encourages the forest-based industries in Kalahandi. Apart from these, the forest products are also exported and thus the forests in the district serve as the important contributor in the economic development of Kalahandi.

Naveen seeks Rs 4500 cr from centre for KBK region

Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday sought a grant of Rs 4,550 crore for the proposed 8-Year Perspective Plan to expedite development process in the backward KBK (Koraput-Bolangir-Kalahandi) districts.

Participating in the 55th Meeting of National Development Council (NDC) deliberations at New Delhi, Mr Patnaik raised the issue of backwardness of the KBK region and said early release of funds would help the state government carry forward the development and welfare measures launched for the districts.

The chief minister made it clear that Orissa had been striving hard to achieve sustainable and inclusive higher economic growth, accelerate overall development and a faster rate of poverty reduction. He claimed that the state government was quite hopeful to attain these objectives based on the impressive and steady growth in the economy.

“The state economy has grown at an average annual rate of 9.51% during the 10th Plan and at 8.73% per annum in the first three years of the 11th Plan, at a faster rate than the national average, despite challenges posed by the global economic slow-down. Such a positive trend has helped the state make higher plan outlays over the years and give emphasis on developing productive infrastructure including roads and irrigation,” Mr Patnaik said.

The chief minister said the union government should address expeditiously some other pressing issues such as funding for various initiatives under the Right to Education Act and sharing of funds between the Centre and states in ratio of 90:10 in view of low resource base and other development needs of states.

Vedanta sets up first Science College at Kalahandi’s Lanjigarh:-

Vedanta Aluminium has announced to set up first ever science college at Lanjigarh of Kalahandi District in Orissa. The full session will begin from the academic year 2011-12. The college will impart graduate level studies in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Zoology, Botany and Environment Science. The college will be funded by the Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) – the special purpose vehicle formed for as per the advice of the Supreme Court.

In the last Lanjigarh Project Area Development Foundation (LPADF) meeting, it has been decided to open a graduate science college at Lanjigarh to provide opportunities to large no of students of Lanjigarh block as well as nearby area like Muniguda, Ambodola and Biswanathpur area; as no such college is available within 50 KM radius of Lanjigarh. The opening of the science college will fulfill the demand of local residents, who are demanding the science college for a long time.

Dr. Mukesh Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, Vedanta Aluminium Limited, Lanjigarh and Director of LPADF said, “It is the long due for the people of Lanjigarh. The opening of graduation level Vedanta Science College at Lanjigarh will provide opportunity to students living in the interior villages, who are finding it difficult to pursue graduation courses after XII, due to non-availability of any science college in the locality.” This college will be a great help for carry forwarding the education system, he also added.

Vedanta Aluminium Limited has proactively agreed to provide land for the college. DAV College Trust and Management society has also agreed to be the partner of the project by providing best education practice for the pupils of Kalahandi. A letter of confirmation to the effect has already been submitted to Collector of Kalahandi. DAV College Trust and Management is a premier education society in the country and has already set up more than hundred colleges across India.

In Lanjigarh, DAV College Trust and Management society has jointly set up an international school, which has been operating for the last four years and is one of the most modern schools within Kalahandi and Rayagada district . A number of renowned persons, including Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has visited the school and has appreciated the level and quality of education being provided by this school.

District Overview

Kalahandi occupies the southwestern portion of Orissa, bordered to the north by the Districts of Balangir and Nawapara, to the south by the District of Rayagada, to the west by the Districts of Nawarangpur and Raipur (Chhatisgarh) and to the east by the Districts of Rayagada and Boudh.It has an area of 8,364.89 square kilometers and ranks 7th in area among the 30 districts of Orissa. The District Headquarters is at Bhawanipatna Town which stands almost to the eastern border.

The District is primarily agricultural, with over half the district
area covered with dense jungle forest. The District is primarily agricultural, with over half the district area covered with dense jungle forest. Industry is very limited, but bauxite and graphite deposits have been commercially exploited.

Kalahandi, (Oriya: କଳାହାଂଡି or locally pronounced as Kalahani), a district of Orissa (now known as Odisha) India, was known as Mahakantara (Great Forest) in ancient India. It is also known as Karunda Mandal, which means treasure of precious stones like karandam (Manik), Garnet (red stone), Beruz, Neelam (blue stone), and Alexandra etc. It is situated in the western Orissa region.

In the ancient time Kalahandi was a part of the different dynastys. In 4th century A.D. it was part of Mahakantara territory, in 9th and 10th century A.D. it was part of 'South Koshala' or 'Koshal' and later on also for sometime a feudatory of earstwhile Kalinga-Utkala empire of Gajapati rulers of Orissa. The region became independent after the downfall of the Gajapatis. History of Naga dynasty of Kalahandi is the only dynasty in Orissa having a record of thousand years (1050 - 1948 A.D.). Maharaja Pratap Keshari Deo, the Ex-Maharaja of Kalahandi, in one of his articles expressed his view that the historical significance of naming Kalahandi as Karunda Mandala is based on the availability of Corundum in this region. Maa Manikeswari (the goddess of Manikya), the clan deity of the Naga kings of Kalahandi may have also necessitated the adoption of the name.