Editing Bargarh (section)

==Culture==
{{Unreferenced section|date=August 2020}}

===Dhanu Jatra===

[[File:Dhanu jatra.jpg|thumb|right|Kansha of Dhanu Jatra]]
[[File:Dhanuyatra Artists enjoying.jpg|thumb|Kansha1]]
Bargarh is known for the annual festival, [[Dhanu Jatra]] which attracts a lot of tourists worldwide.  Dhanu Jatra or Dhanuyatra celebrated every winter, is an open stage dramatisation of Krishna Leela with virtually the whole town as a stage. Spanning over a period of 11 days and a radius of 8&nbsp;km, with the universal theme of 'Triumph of Good over Evil'. It depicts the mythological story of [[Krishna]] starting from the marriage of his parents (Devaki and Basudev) till the death of [[Kamsa|Kansha]], the evil king. For this whole period, Bargarh town turns into the mythological city of [[Mathura]], Jeera river turns into [[Yamuna]] and Ambapali, ward of Bargarh Municipality, turns into [[Gopapur]] with Kansha (played by a theatre artist) 'ruling' over it. This Festival is considered as World's Largest open air theater played across an 8 kilometers radius. Now Dhanuyatra had been declared as a National Festival of India.

=== The Nuakhai or The Nabanna ===
The "Nuakhai" is a social festival of unity. This festival is observed among kith and kins during the month of Bhadraba. The appropriate date of the Nuakhai is just the day after the Ganesh Puja. It is a festival of harvest of crops. On this occasion, the new grain after harvesting is first offered to the local deity and during this festival, the people get themselves lost in merrymakings. Wearing new clothes, preparing delicious foods the people of this area celebrate this festival with enthusiasm. It is mostly an agricultural festival of Western Odisha.

=== Basant Mahotsav of Beherapali ===
The [[Vasant Panchami|Basant Mahotsav]] is celebrated in Beherapali, a village near Sohela, Bargarh every year. The major attraction along with the worship of Saraswati Devi is the 3-day-long open-air drama performed by artists. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160812110246/http://www.dharitri.com/Sambalpur/150216/p2.htm] Based on the historical storyline of Gupta dynasty, the actors enact the King [[Vikramaditya]], Kalidas and attacker Paschim Satrap and the villagers play the role of a resident of [[Ujjain]]. Artists from different parts of the state come to showcase their skill in the courtyard of King Vikramaditya. After the defeat and killing Paschim Satrap, the Vasant Utsav is celebrated with happiness. Many people come to witness the festival along with marvelous acting.

===Maa Shyama Kali Puja===

Kali-Puja is one of the big festivals celebrated at Kali Mandir Road, Bargarh when Goddess Maa Shyama Kali is worshiped on the occasion of Dipawali. Yagyans and hymn are organised for this festival. The big statue of Goddess Shyama Kali is made up of alloy including 8 kinds of metals. A new temple for the Goddess was built since 2015. Besides the Kali temple, there are Sri Shyameshwar Mahadev temple and a Hanuman temple.
[[File:SHYAMAKALI MANDIR BARGARH (2).JPG|thumb|Shyamakali Mandir]]

===Baisakh Mela of Nrusinghnath===

Nrusinghanath Jatra is another major festival of the district, celebrated in the religious site of [[Nrusinghanath]] where Lord Vishnu is worshipped in the form of Marjarakesari. Nrusinghanath is also a historical site that attests to the religious synthesis of tribal people and non-tribal people; and among Saivism, Vaishnavism, Tantrism and Buddhism (Pasayat, 2005:12-25). This mela{{which lang|ate=July 2020|date=July 2020}} is celebrated from Triyodasi to Purnima in the month of Baisakh at Nrusighanath Temple. It is celebrated on the occasion of Nrusingha Janma (birth) and also known as Narsingh Chaturdashi Mela. There becomes a huge gathering of devotees on this occasion.

===Ratha Yatra of Bhatli===

The Cart Festival of Bhatli celebrated at Dadhibaman Temple of Bhatli on the Dwitiya Tithi of Asadha. On this day Lord Dadhibaman rides on the chariot and sets out on a journey to Mausima Mandir. The Lord stays in Mausima Mandir for 9 days and again on the Dasami of Asadha the return Cart Festival is celebrated. On this day the Lord returns to his temple. There becomes a huge gathering of devotees at Bhatli. This cart festival is said to have an affinity with that of Puri.

===Shree Shyam Mandir Bhatli===

[[File:Jaljhoolani_Ekadashi_Reengus_Shyam_Temple_Idol.JPG|thumb|Shyam Baba]]

[[File:Bhatli Shyam Mandir.jpg|thumb|Bhatli Shyam Mandir]]

Shyam Mandir located in Bhatli has many values.{{clarify|date=February 2020}} it is believed to be most popular Shyam Mandir after Khatu Shyamji.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} Pilgrims from the whole of India visit the Mandir during Shyam Mahotsav.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

===Maha Shiva Ratri of Kedarnath===

The Maha Shivaratri at Kedarnath Temple celebrated on the Chaturdasi in the month of Falguna. The temple is located on the foothills of Bara Pahar, nearly 35&nbsp;km from Bargarh town. Lord Shiva is worshipped on this occasion. On this day the devotees observe fasting and remain awakened at night. Many cultural programmes are organised which the people enjoy. The day observed in each and every Shiva Temple in Bargarh.

===Sital Sasthi of Barpali===

The Sital Sasthi Yatra celebrated in Barpali on the day of Sasthi in the month of Jestha every year on the occasion of the marriage ceremony of Lord [[Shiva]] with Goddess [[Parvati]]. There is a huge gathering of devotees at Barpali. It is a mobile yatra. Many folk dances, cultural programmes are organised which the people enjoy it at night. For the last few years, it has also been celebrated in proper Bargarh town. It is the second biggest as per devotees after the Sambalpur Sital Sasthi Yatra.

===Bali Yatra of Khuntpali===

The Bali (Sand) Yatra is celebrated on the sand-bed of river Zeera at Khuntpali on the day of Kartika Purnima. On this occasion, Lord [[Shiva]] is worshipped with all serenity on the sand-bed. During this much trade, fares are held on the sand-bed at Khuntpali, AT/Po. Khuntpali, Tah/Dist. Bargarh.The balijatra of khuntpali is one of the best festivals of Odisha.


===Bargarh Yoga Ashram===
Niranjanananda Yoga Sansthan, a Yoga Ashram associated with the Yoga teaching institution Bihar School of Yoga, Munger, was established in the town in 2010. It conducts daily Yoga sessions in the mornings along with evening programs of chanting and meditation. This Ashram follows the Satyananda System of Yoga. Swami Vijnana Chaitanya Saraswati is the Acharya of Ashram at Bargarh (2010-present)

===Jugar Jatra of Kuchipali===

The jugar jatra of Kuchipali is one of the festivals of the Bargarh district and Odisha. The festival is based on brotherhood and peace of mankind. It was started in the year 1985. Large jugars are given to maa kali by devotees. Animals are generally killed in shakti upasana or the festival of kalipuja, durgapuja and others. But in jugar jatra of kuchipali jugars are given, which were made from khai (a product of rice) and gud (a product of sugarcane). Though jugar jatra is a great festival, there is no need for police. All the safety security and smooth conduct of the festival is done by a volunteer group saptarshi swechhasevi sangathan. In this festival the Muslims also participate. This festival commands the whole world to destroy enmity and make unity. It is also a platform for folk dance groups that are going extinct.

Jugar jatra is now not limited in Bargarh only – it is spread to Chhattisgarh and other neighboring states. Every year more than 200 jugars are coming from outside the district. In 2009 the silver jubilee of jugarjatra was observed. And from 2009 must a 21 khandi jugar (a large jugar equal to 21*one simple jugar) is given.