Bhuban

Bhuban ଭୁବନ
city
Bhuban Show map of Odisha Bhuban Show map of India Location in Odisha, India
Coordinates: 20°53′N 85°50′E / 20.88°N 85.83°E / 20.88; 85.83Coordinates: 20°53′N 85°50′E / 20.88°N 85.83°E / 20.88; 85.83
Country	India
State	Odisha
District	Dhenkanal
Elevation	64 m (210 ft)
Languages
• Official	Oriya
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	759017
Vehicle registration	OD
Website	odisha.gov.in

Bhuban is a town and a NAC, in the sub-division of Kamakshyanagar, Dhenkanal district in the state of Odisha, India. It is well known for its Brass and Metal crafts('Kansa pittal basan'). The village has a blend of cultures as people of different cultures (Hindu, Muslims) reside here. Most of the population are Hindus. Business, cultivation are the major activities of the people to earn their livings. It is basically a business hub for the people, who live in around a 20 km radius surrounding it.

Bhuban is the birthplace of Sahid Baji Rout (b. 1925, martyred 10 October 1938), "the youngest martyr" of India,^[1] who was shot in 1938 at Nilakanthapur, Bhuban.

Demographics

Bhuban is located at 20°53′N 85°50′E / 20.88°N 85.83°E / 20.88; 85.83.^[2] It has an average elevation of 64 metres (209 feet). As of 2011 India census,^[3] Bhuban had a population of 22,200. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bhuban has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 74%; with male literacy of 80.6% and female literacy of 69%. 10.22% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Cultural life

Festivals

Almost all the festivals are being celebrated in a grand manner by the residents of Bhuban. The festival season starts with Khudurukuni, then Ganesh puja, Dussehra, Laxmi Puja, Kali Puja, Bali Jatra,Hingula jatra and so on and on.

The Dussehra is celebrated in a grand way, which is very different, conventional and as per the tradition. People of Bhuban, who are residing outsides of it, always make it a point to be a part of the grand celebration every year. It is basically celebrated for two days.

Bullocks decoration on Vijayadashami Festival

On Vijayadashami, Bullocks are decorated using beads, furs, colourful saddles and become a part of the procession, which is not done elsewhere in the world. In the second day of the celebration immersion of goddess Durga takes place. The Bullock festival of Bhuban has a special identity. Legend says, in ancient days Bullocks were used for both transport and conveyance. The Thoriya community and Baladia bania community (A community of Goldsmith caste) of Bhuban used Bullocks for trade and business purposes. The Baladia community used to travel miles through the neighbouring villages to trade gold and silver jewelleries. So to offer homage to the Bullocks, during Dusserah period, when the bullocks are not enganged in any work by farmers, the Thoriya and Baladia community people were taking the bullocks to gramdevi at Banijari and worshiped them. Then the bullocks make few rotation around The Gramdevi. In subsequent time this became a convention and custom for the people of Bhuban.

In present-day the bullocks are decorated with ornaments, beads, bells in their neck, colourful velvet saddles in their back. They are treated with utmost care and are fed well before they are taken for the worship at Gramadevi (Village Goddess) as in the tradition. This shows the rich cultural tradition of "Bhubanians" and their empathetic associations with Animals . Then the Bullocks are taken for a procession with full blown music. Interestingly the bullocks are not frightened to the loud music. The procession covers about 3 to 4 km and runs the whole night. The procession starts around 6 PM and goes till the next day morning. So, anybody who knows any "Bhubanian" must know the special Dussehra celebrated here. The "Aarisa Pitha" is a very much talked about sweet dish prepared at homes in this festival.

Bali Jatra

Bali jatra, means Festival of Sand. One day before Kartik Poornima a local festival known as "Bali jatra" takes place around the Shiva temple named Brudheswar temple on the bank of brahmani river with much splendor. Many people gather near Brundeswar temple for Bali Jatra. People take bath very early in the morning in the Brahmani river and worpship Shiva Lingam made up off sand, on the bank of the river. The rituals related to Balunga (God of Sands) starts from the Navami of the month and last up to the Poornima or fullmoon day .Sand idols are worshipped among the elderly ladies of the village, known as Balunga Oshaa (Rituals of Sand God) and is performed on the same day. Lord Kartikeswara and Lord Shiva are also worshipped on the Kartik Poornima.

In Oriya history, people used to go for sailing across the river for business and trading, after worshipping the Lord, is popularly known as Boita Bandana which means worship of the boat. So, on the same day, paper boats are lighted with candle and are floated in the river as a symbol of remembrance of the past traditions of Sadhaba Community. People make a delicious dish of food item called Bada Oshaa Bhoga made up off raw rice grindings, cocunut and sugar to perform the Naivedhya.

This is also known as Bada Oshaa meaning Large Festival.

Hingula Jatra

Another most important festival celebrate in Bhuban is "Hingula Jatra" in Chatra purnima likely to fall in April in the English calendar.

Sital Sasthi" Shiba Bibaha"

The Sital Sasthi otherwise known as Shiva Parbati Bibaha Utschava is also celebrated in Bhuban at Chhata Matha, Mahadev Temple, Badahat and brudheswar Temple

Special Food Dishes

There are some special food dishes namely Khandu and Chhunchi Patra which are uniquely found in Bhuban village.

Chhunchi Patra

A special sweet item, made up off cocunut, rice and Maida flour. It is uniquely made in a village of Odisha, namely Bhuban. It is made on special occasions. Cocunut are grinded and mixed with either sugar or Jaggery and used as pura (sweet masala) as the sweetener in the Chhunchi Patra.

It is a sweet item made on special occasions and madeup off cocunut grinding, rice and Maida flour. The mixture is made up off rice grinding and Maida flour and is flatted on a heated tava in moderate flame. Cocunut is mixed with sugar or Jaggery and used as pura (sweet masala) inside the cooked cake.

Geography

Bhuban is located at 20°53′N 85°50′E / 20.88°N 85.83°E / 20.88; 85.83.^[4] It has an average elevation of 64 metres (209 feet). Bhuban is located at 20°53′N 85°50′E / 20.88°N 85.83°E / 20.88; 85.83.[1] It has an average elevation of 64 meters (209 feet). Bhuban is around 90 km from all the leading power plants(Kaniha NTPC and Talcher NTPC) and so called industrial hub Angul.

Education

It has several schools and high schools for children education. Among them Bhuban High School established during 1948 is the oldest institution. The alumni from this institution have established them in National and International level. Convent schools like Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, Baji Rout Memorial School and Saraswati Shishu Mandir.Bhuban Girl's High School and Nua Bhuban High School providing quality education to the children's of this region. In Sri Aurobindo Integral Education Centre, hostel facilities are provided to the students who come from outside of the village.

Bhuban High School and Bhuban Girls High School are top among the high school category.

Baji Rout Memorial College,^[5] Bhuban Women's college and Bhuban women's Degree College provides education to the students of Bhuban and its surroundings.There are two English medium schools such as Binayak English Medium School and Swami Vivekanand English Medium School.They serve their best education facilities to the village students.

Other information

Many social organisations such as Rama mandir Puja committee, mahila sangrami morcha, Satya Sai Seva anusthana, Brudheswar puja committee, Durga Puja Committee, Rastriya swayan sevak sangh, Bajaranga dala, Biswa Hindu Parisad, Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parisad (ABVP)Bhuban Unit, Maa Hingula Thakurani Puja Committee, Ganesh puja committee, Bhuban Krushak Samaj, Bhuban has been organizing frequent activities every year.There are many restaurants such as Hotel Jasmine,Hotel Rainbow,Hotel Satabdee.Best fooding facilities are available at low price in the restaurants.

Notable people

Bhuban is the birthplace of Sahid Baji Rout (b. 1925, martyred 10 October 1938), "the youngest martyr" of India, who was shot in 1938 at Nilakanthapur, Bhuban.^[6]

References