River Mahanadi
is the principal River of Bargarh
District . It originate from the Chhatisgarh
plateau and enter the
district in the north west of
Ambabhona block and flows in to the
Hirakud reservoir . crossing the Hirakud Dam
it takes a curve and continues to south
flowing in to the Sonepur District . Gond
Turum is the last point of River
Mahanadi where its left the Bargarh District
. River Jira is the principal
tributaries of River Mahanadi . River
Jhaun is also another tributaries of
Mahanadi which flows through the
Bargarh plain and join Mahanadi near village
Rusuda of Bheden Block . River Jira
has a main tributary , the River Danta
which join River Jira near Bheden .
Near Sialkhandhatha River Jira bifurcate
and one of the stream goes towards the
Sonepur District but again it joins in Jira
just bellow the village Sialkhandhatha
creating an island . while other stream of
Jira which runs in the land of Bargarh
District again divided in to two parts
and sun separately about one and half
kilometer creating another island and
all the three branches unite together to run
downwards to join in River Mahanadi near
Gond Turum of Bheden block.
River Ong which
rises in the Nuapada District and enter
Bargarh in the south east corner of Padampur
. It flows in a semi circle path and leave
the district near Gaisilet .
Rivers like Zeera
and Mahanadi are not only beneficial
for cultivation it also beneficial for
transportation. Cultural Festivals and
Rituals In ancient times shows
the glorious past of navigation of this area
Bali Yatra of Khuntpali , Sialkhandhata
of Bargarh District shows that river
navigation was done in the river
zeera (Jira) and river Mahanadi .
Mainly people of Keut & Dhibar cast
were engaged in River navigation . After
Hirakud Dam river navigation of western
Orissa stopped .Thousand and thousand of
peoples of this community became unemployed
, which create an adverse economical impact
in Western Orissa . the past glory of river
navigation in western Orissa
still alive in shape of Baliyatra festival
where the ladies, young-girls and married
women sail boats made of 'shole' or bark of
plantain tree (Kadalipatua) with lamp
lighted up, guava, raw rice, betel leaves
and different types of flower for safe
return of Sea-Voyages in the month of bright
day of Kartika. to remember the days
of ancient maritime trade. People of Orissa
lighted a lamp on a high pillar of
bamboo or bullah (Akash Dipa) near
Siva temple or in front of a Tulasi tree as
a symbol of light house for the sea voyages
in the month of Kartika when the trade winds
are favorable. Trading & transportation of
material was done through river
Mahanadi with the other Sea
ports of Orissa .Padmashree Paramananda
Acharya identified a place near about
false point which is situated in
between mouth of river Baitarani and
Mahanadi on the sea shore. Historian Pratap
Kumar Roy also identified port town
Charitrapura which is little above false
point on the left bank of Chitrotpala and
Luna confluence, branches of Mahanadi. The
Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang told that the
city of Charitra in the country of UCHA
(Utkal) whose south east boarder is the
mouth of river Mahanadi and ocean.The false
point is well connected with
Patamundai an ancient river port on the left
bank of old river Brahmani. It is also
connected to Dhamara, Chandabali,
Kharsua river, Budha river, Birupa, Matai,
Salandi, the branches of river
Brahmani and Baitarani via Pattamundai.It is
connected through river Gobari to
Kendrapara. The false-point is only 6 km
from Paradeep through river route This
harbour was connected with Devi river by
tidal creeks, which were navigable by the
country boats throughout the year. It is
well connected to Cuttack, Sonepur,
Tusura (Bolangir) Binka,
Boudh, Athmalik, Sambalpur by river
route. Due to regression of the ocean,
tectonic movement, coastal erossion and
sedimentation, change of river course, heavy
flood, severe cyclonic effect and other
types of vagaries of nature, the port town
of Charitrapura (Che-lita-lo) might had
loose its existence.
