Kendrapara

Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
native_name = Kendrapara | type = city | latd = 20.50 | longd = 86.42
state_name = Orissa
district = Kendrapara
leader_title =
leader_name =
altitude = 13
population_as_of = 2001
population_total = 41,404| population_density =
area_magnitude= sq. km
area_total =
area_telephone =91-6727
postal_code =
vehicle_code_range =
sex_ratio =
unlocode =
website =
footnotes =

Kendrapara is a city and a municipality in Kendrapara district in the Indian state of Orissa. It is the headquarters of Kendrapara district.

Geography

Kendrapara is located at coord|20.50|N|86.42|E| [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/21/Kendraparha.html Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kendrapara] ] . It has an average elevation of m to ft|13|m|abbr=on.It is Surrounded by Bhadrak,Jajpur,cuttack and Jajatsinghpur districts and bay of bangal in the east.

Transport

Kendrapara is just about 122 kilometers from the state capital, Bhubaneswar. To reach Kendrapara one can go via Cuttack-Jagatpur-Salipur state high way or on the National Highway No.5 and 5 A, crossing at Chandikhol towards Paradip. Kendrapara is just one and half hour drive from Bhubaneswar Airport on the National Highway 5 and 5 A.The Nearest Railway station is at Cuttack which is 55 kilometer from kendrapara town.

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, [GR|India] Kendrapara had a population of 41,404. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Kendrapara has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 68%. In Kendrapara, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. The local language is Oriya, the state language, but a high degree of fluency is also present in Hindi, English and Bengali, as well as some familiarity with Urdu and Telugu in some parts of the population.

Hindus form the dominant majority of the population. There is a substantial Muslim minority as well as Christians.

Culture

The great Baladevjew Temple is located in Kendrapara. A Car Festival is held in the month of July. The Gajalaxmi puja is celebrated in the month of October and Kartikeiya Puja in November and Maa Kali Puja at Olaver are held each year.Gajalaxmi puja is a big festival here and is celebrated for 7 days. Maa Kali Puja in Olaver is one of the famous festivals in the region. The Oriya sweet dish, Rasabali, originated from Kendrapara. The car of Lord Baladevjew, also called as 'Bramha Taaladhwaja' is one of the biggest car of its type in the world. Kendrapara is also known as Tulasi Keshrta (as Tulasi Devi is the wife of Lord Balabhadra) and Gupta Kshetra ( Lord Balabhadra wish to stay here secretely). Different types of prasad prepared and used in Baladevjew Temple are Rasabali, Potali Pitha, Magaja Ladoo, Kakaraa, Khaja, Karanji, and many more.

Potali Matha, located at Balia which is around 5 km towards north of Kendrapara town, organizes a 5-day 'Biswa Santhi Jagayan' each year in the month of March. People from across India gather there. On the final day of the Jagayan, there is always a big crowd to get the prasad (Jagayan Ahuti).

Most of the people here are farmers and some do business and some do fishing in the river and the bay-of-bengal.growing prawn near sea shore is a profitable business. Many small scale industries are coming up so people are now getting more opertunity there.

Politics

The Assembly seats in the district are Kendrapara, Bari-Derabisi, Patakura, Rajnagar, Pattamundia, and Aul.

Throughout the area politics have remained with the local parties since the 1970s. Kendrapara has played a crucial role in Orissa's politics, producing leaders like Member of Parliament Mr. Rabi Ray who achieved the post of Speaker in Loksabha, and Mr. Biju Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Orissa. Present day leaders from Kendrapara include individuals such as Supreme Court of India Lawyer, Mr. Prasanta Varma, as well as Member of Parliament of Kendrapara (Lok Sabha constituency), Ms. Archana Nayak.

Current MLA from Kendrapara Assembly Constituency is Utkal Keshari Parida of OGP, who won the seat in State elections of 2004. Previous MLAs from this seat were Bed Prakash Agarwalla who won this seat in 2000 representing BJP and also earlier in 1990 representing JD and in 1977 representing JNP, Bhahabat Prasad Mohanty of INC who won in 1995 and in 1985, and Indramani Rout of INC(I) in 1980. [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/March2004/pollupd/ac/states/s18/Partycomp33.htm
title = State Elections 2004 - Partywise Comparision for 33-Kendrapara Constituency of ORISSA
publisher = Election Commission of India
accessdate = 2008-09-24]

Kendrapara is part of Kendrapara (Lok Sabha constituency). [cite web
url = http://archive.eci.gov.in/se2000/background/S18/Orissa_AC_Dist_PC.pdf
title = Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies of Orissa
publisher = Election Commission of India
accessdate = 2008-09-24]

ocial organisations

* Potali Matha
* Nrusingha Tikiri Matha (BayaBaba Matha), Kendrapara
* Anata Matha
* Baba Baikuntha Nath Brahmachari Math (Hanuman Mandir, Garapur)
* Sankara Baba Matha ,Rajagarh

Education

In the field of Education also Kendrapara is not behind. There are so many schools and colleges which are engaged in creating well qualified professionals in all the fields. Some of the Educational institutions of Kendrapara are:

* Kendrapara College
* Tulsi Women's College
* Kendrapara Law College
* Marsaghai College
* Kendrapara Boys High School
* Ichhapur High School
* Baldevjew High School
* Government Girl's High School
* Ideal Public School
* St. Joseph School
* Netaji Subhash English Medium School
* Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Baro
* Saraswati Sisu Mandir
* Balia High School
* Bharati Bidya Mandir
* Standard Public School
* Rajagarh High school
* Marsaghai High School

Kendrapara has produced a number of well known personalities. Now a days young and enthusiastic professionals are coming up and have established their names in the fields like Software and IT Industry, Management, Finance, Education, Administration, Politics, etc.

References

ee also

* Kendrapara (Lok Sabha constituency)