Jajpur

The District of Jajpur presents a colorful tapestry of heritage, culture, and creativity, making it a microcosm of the Odia identity and a charming confluence of the old and new. It lies in eastern Odisha, 85 km north of Bhubaneswar, the state capital, and is blessed with abundant nature. The District is packed with rolling hills and nourished by two major river systems. Jajpur holds supreme religious significance for the Odia Hindu community as the hallowed land of Maa Biraja, considered one of the 51 shaktipeeths in the subcontinent, which is why it is also called the Biraja Khetra. Proud to be the ancient capital of Odisha, the District contains one of the earliest municipalities established during British rule, which adds to its socioeconomic legacy. It is also renowned for its rich architectural heritage, home to iconic Buddhist archaeological sites dating back to the early first millennium AD. Ratnagiri and Udayagiri, together with Lalitgiri in the neighboring Cuttack district, formed a distributed network of monasteries collectively referred to as the Pushpagiri University. Jajpur’s identity as a cradle of craft draws from the presence of an array of rural clusters that have nurtured various craft traditions. Prominent examples include Tussar silk handloom, stone carving, golden grass weaving, terracotta, and jute and bamboo work. The Gopalpur village in Jajpur is a prolific center of Tussar silk weaving, and the sarees produced here are known for their refined weaves and ornate patterns. The craft has earned the District a coveted Geographical Indicator or GI tag, and the practice is complemented by a robust sericulture tradition in the tribal pockets of Sukinda, once considered to be the largest cocoon cultivation center in Asia. Together with traditional reeling and dyeing clusters, Jajpur accommodates the entire value chain of Tussar silk production within its confines, a rare distinction for any region producing handloom fabric. Jajpur is equally rich in folk performing arts, such as Pala, Daskathia, Ghoda-Nacha, Laudi Khela, Ghumura, Dholki, and Khanjani, which are popular in districts across eastern Odisha. The District has a population of 18 lakh persons (Census 2011) and is home to nearly 2,100 weavers, 350 silk rearers, 1,800 craft persons, and 4,200 performing artists.