User:Rabidash27

River “DEVI” or “DEBINADI” as it is called in colloquial odia language is a name given to the furious “Kathjodi “ river just after it has crossed Cuttack. From last thousand years Kathjodi has threatened Cuttack along with Mahanadi the biggest river of the state to engulf it in every flood because this old half-City remains about 10 feet below the flow of both the rivers during high flood being separated from all the sides like an island. Baimundi a simple courtesan once requested the King to protect Cuttack from high flood by constructing a 25 kilometer strong stone wall around the city which has also protected it for the last thousand years. But River Devi flows down with its branches like Biluakhai, Chhinda, Sirua Kandal etc causing the entire Jagatsinghpur District flood affected from time immemorial. River islands like Baisimouza(22 vilages),Bayalishi mouza(42 villages) are encircled by these rivers from all the sides. Devastating flood causalities have taken place repeatedly in these areas. On the bank of tiver DEVI there is a village called BAMBILO which has diminished to half its size within 30 years being flown into the river in pieces. There is no pucca road to this village till date although it is just 32/35 kms from both Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. In this village there is no post office, no PHC, no Vet Hospial, no doctor, no High School, no market of any type and not a single shop where you can get a medicine or 5/10 kgs of rice or dal at a time or any dress materials for your kids although population of this village will be more than 1000. In spite of this the villagers have good faith on their deities. Every year Shri Shri Gopaljew visits every household of the village accompanied with Shri Shri Sankareswarji of village “Sudasailo” and Shri Radha Mohan of village Basandra. A big Melan(Get together) of Gods takes place during Dola Yatra where Gods from nearby 12 temples come for a night with celebration. A drama, Palla (discourse or discussion in odia literature), Daskathia(a typical group of folk singers who perform with two wooden music instruments) or Ghodanacha (Singers perform horse dance) are must with this Yatra. So far this village has produced 3 doctors, 10 Enginers and 20/25 officers in different walks of life.

By Rabi Narayan Dash