Once Jajpur District was a great centre of art and culture in ancient Odisha. This district is declared as a heritage district ‘Biraja Khetra’ is one of the ancient cities of Odisha rich in archaeological remains .It is reputed to be one of the important Tantra Khetras in the state. The ancient monuments like Biraja Temple, Lord Baraha Temple, Daswasamedhaghat, Jagannath Temple, Trilochaneswar Temple, Ratnagiri, and Udayagiri and so many other places of historical importance add tourist attraction. Jaipur is also known as Navigaya. People all over the state and neighboring state come here to offer SRADDHA on the Bank of River Baitarini.
A land of rich and diverse artistic achievement, Jajpur’s art and culture are theproduct of a long historical process in which the spiritual, philosophical and the humane dimensions have merged to yield the finest effects of culture and civilized life.The cultural heritage of Jajpur is reflected in its vibrant Art forms
The district has village tradition of painting, architectures, sculpture, and handicrafts. The Jajpur school of painting has three streams such as Jhoti, Chita and Muruja.
Coming to fasts and festivals, in the month of Margasira women folk worship the Goddess Laxmi. It is the harvest season when grain is thrashed and stored. During this auspicious occasion the mud walls and floors are decorated with murals in white rice paste. These are called Jhoti or Chita and are drown not merely with the intention of decorating the house, but to establish a relationship between the mystical and the material, and thus being highly symbolical and meaningful. Folk painting in the tradition survives till today in all its pristine freshness. Throughout the year the village woman perform several rituals for the fulfillment of their desires.
Muruja is drawn on the floor with powders of different hues. white powder is obtained from the grinding of stone. Green powder is obtained from dry leaves, black from burnt coconut shells, yellow is obtained from petals of marigold flowers or turmeric and red from red clay or bricks. Muruja is generally drown during rituals in the form of Mandala. In the holy month of ‘Kartika’ women observe,penance and draw muruja designs near the Tulasi Chaura
Language Spoken In the District
Odiya one of the oldest languages in the district and also the predominant language spoken by the people. However 10 percent of the inhabitants speaks Urdu and atleast 9 to 10 percent communicate with some variations having adivasi languages.
Art and Literature
From time immeorial Jajpur has remained the epi centre of cultural awakening.Besides that the district has immense contribution to odia literature.The prominent literary figures of the state like Abimanyu Samanta Singhar, Manjula Krushna Prasad Basu, Braja Sundar, Birupakshya Kar, dramatist Kamapal Mishra are son of the soil. Other prominent writer include Upendra Tripathy(children’s literature),essayist Baikuntha Nath Rath, and fiction writer Govind Das.
