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.
