Baneswar Temple, Balasore, Orissa India

Vishnu temples at different places of Balasore and Khirochora temple ( built during 2nd Narasingha Dev ) highlights the facts.The two Jagannath temples at the heart of Balasore & Jagannath temple at Nilagiri ,Mangalpur,Gud,Jaleswar,Kamarda,Deuligan & Baliapal magnify the culture of Balasore. Many a Masjids,Churches,Gurudwar ( at Remuna ) etc. identify about different religion and place of workship at Balasore.

The famous festivals like Makara Sankranti, Raja Sankranti,Ganga Mela,Durga Puja,Kali Puja,Gonesh Chaturthi,Saraswati Puja,Laxmi Puja,Bishwakarma Puja,Chandan festival,Car festival, Maha Shivaratri,Dola Purnima, Idd, Moharrum ,Christmas Day etc.are performed with pump and ceremony by the people of Balasore. Balasore is famous for the most attractive and enjoyable game “ Akhada ” played during Durga Puja by Hindus & during Moharrum by Muslims.

The pre Independence Political Scenerio of Balasore is highly commendable and people of Balasore had played dynamic role for separate Orissa province and also for freedom movement.“Inchudi Salt Revolution ( Lavana Satyagrah)” and “Srijang Satyagrah ” for non-payment of Revenue Tax are famous in National Scenerio as part of struggle for freedom movement.

Education plays an important role in Balasore both before and after Independence. At present many a primary & secondary schools both in English and Regional language medium are imparting School Education. Many a Degree Colleges Law College,College of Education,Engineering School and Colleges,Song & Music colleges,Art and Craft Colleges,Industrial Training Institutes, Management Colleges & Computer Institutes are found at different parts of District. Fakir Mohan University of Balasore is in a rappid progressive stage.Balasore is also highly repute in the field of Drama , Theatre ,Music & Litreture. The Radha Govinda Theatre ,Bharati Theatre ,Sunhat Theatre & Juvenile Theatre were highly reputed before Independence and the institutions like Srashtha,Fakir Mohan Natya Parishad, Fakir Mohan Sahitya Parishad, Chadrabhaga, Nrutya Sangeeta Kala Mandir,Sai Kala Mandir etc. after Independence are highly repute in the field of Culture.

Balasore is highly popular in 1st part of the 17th century for port culture. Pipilli, Sartha, Chhanua & Balasore were important ports the then time.People form this place were going abroad especially to Lacadive and Maldiv iland through sea root with the help of boat for business purpose.

 People of Balasore had also played dominant role for language revolution in making separate Orissa province. The important news papers “ Bodhadayeenee “ and “Balasore Sambad Bahika ”, by the efforts of Vysa Kabi Fakir Mohan Senapati had shown the seeds for Oriya language revolution and for development of Oriya literature.The Orissa cultural history will ever remember the contribution of Raja Baikuntha Nath Dev, Vysa Kabi Fakir Mohan and Rai Bahadur Radha Chran Das for their long efforts in making Orissa a separate Province and to magnify Oriya language and literature.