Durg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ?Durg Chhattisgarh • India |
|
 |
|
| Coordinates: | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 290 m (951 ft) |
| District(s) | Durg |
| Population | 231,182 (2001) |
Coordinates: Durg is a city and a municipal corporation in Durg District in the state of Chhattisgarh, India, and is part of the Bhilai agglomeration. Durg lies about 11 km from Bhilai and 35 km from the state capital Raipur. It is the headquarters of Durg District, the second largest district of Chattisgarh.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Durg is located at .[1] It has an average elevation of 290 meters (951 ft).
Area - 8701.80 km²'s.
Forest Cover is 9.01% i.e. 730 square kilometers.
The Durg District is a populous District of Chhattisgarh. It occupies the southwestern part of the Chhattisgarh plain and possesses belts of hilly country in the south, southwest and northwest, bestowed with mineral resources and forests. The National Highway No. 6 ((Mumbai - Raipur - Calcutta) is the major highway of the district and the train route is the main line of the South Eastern Railway midway between Mumbai-Calcutta. Nearest airport from the District Headquarter Durg is at Mana (Raipur) about 50 km's.
[edit] Physiography
The District occupies the southwestern part of the Upper Sheonath-Mahanadi valley and the bordering hills in the south and southwest. Physiographically, the District can be divided into two divisions, viz. the C.G. plain and the Southern plateau. The Chhattisgarh plain occupies the largest area in the District.
Maximum, Average & Minimum Rain fall Of District Durg are 1477.2 mm, 1071.16 mm and 781.5 mm per year respectively.
Rivers : The general slope of the district is towards the north and north east and locally in some places towards east. Sheonath and Kharun rivers contribute the most in the drainage system of the district. All the small rivulets and rivers are the tributaries either of Sheonath river or Kharun river. Sheonath river flows nearer to the western border of the district whereas river Kharun forms the eastern border of the district which ultimately joins Sheonath river. The river Sheonath itself forms the part of big Mahanadi basin.
Climate : The climate of district is moderate but on a warmer side in summer season The peak temperatures are usually reached in May/June and can be as high as 45°C. The onset of monsoon is usually from July and the season extends up to September, with monsoon peaking during July and August. After monsoons, the average temperature varies between 32°C and approx 12°C right through December and January.
[edit] History
In ancient times Durg was part of 'Dakshina' or 'Southern Kosala'. In the epic 'Ramayana', King Dasharatha Of Uttara Kosala married Kosalaya, the princess of Dakshnia Kosala.
The Chinese traveller Huien Tsang visited Southern Kosala in the 4th Century A.D. He mentions that he found an Asokan tope in the Capital city. It is therefore apparent that the District was included in Ashoka's Empire.
Álso in the 5th century AD, we get an authentic reference to this tract, in the famous Allahabad Pillar Inscription of Samudra Gupta. He claims that two kingdom Kosala and Mahakantara, sccumbed to his southern expedition.
However, the first specific reference with regard to the word "Durg" comes around the 8th century A.D. through two stone inscriptions; which were found in Durg and later deposited in the Raipur Museuem. The First incription mentions the name of a king Shiva Deva. The 2nd inscription associates the name of Sivapura (the capital of Shivadeva) with that of Shiva Durga, indicating thereby that during Shivadeva's reign the town and the fort were separate. The present name "Durg" is evidently a contraction of the old shivadurga, which he built. The river on whose banks stands the present town is also called "Shiva River ".
With the coming of the Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri in A.D. 1182, Durg came under there kingdom. From then on it remained under the Kalachuries, till 1742 A. D. when the Marathas deposed them.
In 1877, after the Marathas lost the IIIrd Anglo- Maratha War, the tract of Chhattisgarh passed into British hands. Caption Edmonds was the First British Officer posted in Chhattisgarh as Collector and Magistrate to carry on the administration. For the purpose of Administration Durg was attached to Bhandara District (now in Maharashtra) but in 1857 it was separated and made into a tehsil of Raipur district to which it remained attached till 1906.
In 1906 Durg was created as a separate district. The Collectorate building was built in the year 1907. Interestingly, cement was not used in the construction of the collectorate building, instead a mixure of limestone, gum, sand and fruit pulp was used as the binding agent. Today even though 100 years have gone by, the collectorate building stands strong as it might have been built yesterday. Soon after, 350 acres (1.4 km²) of land from Kasaridih Village, was acquired by the government to build official residences. It is on this land that we find today's Civil Lines, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla Stadium, Chaupati, Company Garden, New Bus Stand, Polytecnic College and the Law College. The First Collector Of Durg was Shri S. M. Chitnabees. It is in his memory that the road from Kucheri to the Railway Station has been named "Chitnabees Road".'
During the freedom struggle, Durg was a hot bed of nationallist activities. Almost all the prominent leaders including Mahatama Gandhi, Pt. Jawahalal Nehru and Dr. Rajendra Prasad visited Durg during the freedom struggle.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India census,[2] Durg had a population of 231,182. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Durg has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79% and, female literacy is 65%. In Durg, 13% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Culture
The people of Durg also have a great tendency towards adopting new trends and life styles. Durg thus is multicultural for people from all over the world have come and settled in this region. The people of Durg are also known for their simplicity, kind heartedness and adaptibility, and this is the culture of Durg.
The people of this region are very fond of colors. The dresses they wear are very colorful. Women wear sarees with Kardhani. In rural areas women wear mala made of one rupee coins. Though this has gone out of trend these days. The people of this region are also known for creating humour out of language. Comical plays are very popular and are worth watching.
Durg is rich in its cultural heritage. Durg has its own dance styles, cuisine, music. Pandwani the musical narration of the epic Mahabharata, "Raut Nacha"(performed basically by Yadav caste, this folk dance has bagged many awards at state level) and the Panthi and Soowa dance styles.
Teejan Bai, the Pandwani artist was awarded Padmashree for her contribution to this dance style. Coincidentally she is an employee of Bhilai Steel Plant.
Another Pandwani artist is Ritu Verma who is also one of the best artist of this folk dance. The district also has the endeavor to have a Sitar player Shri. Budhaditya Mukherjee of international fame. Similarly there are two National level artist in the field of Painting named Shri. Asif and Shri. Tushar Waghela who have displayed their paintings at various Art Galleries in India and bagged many awards..
Gond, Kanver, Uraon, Korva, Kol, Bhariya, Binjhwar, Sawar, Dhanwar, Madiya and many schedule tribes are found in Durg. People of Durg celebrate dance, music, marriage and other cultural festivals like Navakhani, Ganga Dushhara, Sarhul Chherka, Dushara, Dipawali, Karma & Kartika.
Durg's most famous and popular folk plays are Chandaini-Gonda, Sonha-Bihan, Lorik-Chanda, Kari, Hareli, Gammatiha. Rahas is a modern folk drama of Durg.
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Durg
- ^ Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns. (Provisional). Census Commission of India. Retrieved on 2007-09-03.
