Gandola

Gandola
Village
Gandola Location in Odisha, India
Coordinates: 19°19′N 84°47′E / 19.32°N 84.78°E / 19.32; 84.78Coordinates: 19°19′N 84°47′E / 19.32°N 84.78°E / 19.32; 84.78
Country	India
State	Odisha
District	Ganjam
Elevation	28 m (92 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	8,389
Languages
• Official	Oriya
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	761 003
Telephone code	06811-

Gandola is a small village located in the eastern coastline of Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha.

Overview

Gandola is a town under the panchayat of Hinjilicut. Majority of people in this town are dependent on cultivation.

Geography

Gandola has an average elevation of 28 m (92 ft).

Demographics

According to a 2013 report on world Gazetter India census,^[1] Gandola-Belagan had a population of 8389 which is more than Gopalpur port town. Gandola is a Panchayat (with one village) & Belagan also a Panchayat (with one village). Both the villages are merged about 30 years back like Hinjili and Katu.

• Gandola: In 2011 – 4652, and in 2013 – 5199
• Belagan: In 2011 – 3154, and in 2013 – 3190^[2]

Health care

• Bellagam Government PHC Hospital

Education

• Ganesh Vidyapitha (established 1959)
• Raghunath Vidyapitha, Bellagam
• Sri Beleswar (Junior) Mahavidyalaya, Gandola
• Sri Beleswar Mahavidyalaya, Gandola

Attractions

The village is agog with activities to welcome goddess Budhi Thakurani to her temporary abode for the biennial Thakurani Jatra festival at late night. The hereditary head of the festival, who is also regarded as the head of the weaver Dera community of the city, Desibehera dressed in his traditional attire reached the Budhi Thakurani temple to invite the goddess to her parental abode at his home on Saturday afternoon. His wife also accompanied him as per the tradition. They also offered ritualistic offerings at the Kalika temple.

Rituals to welcome the deity for the festival started at the temporary temple built at Desibehera street from evening with the 'Changudi Puja'. After rituals, flowers would be carried from Desibehera's house to the Budhi Thakurani temple in this special basket called 'Changudi'.

After offering these flowers to the deity, special rituals would be conducted at the temple that would continue till some of these offered flowers fall down from the deity. These fallen flowers would be carried as representative of the deity to Desibehera street in a large decorated procession at late night. A special police outpost for Thakurani Jatra was opened up at Desibehera Street.

References