The approximate area of Surada Tahasil (6 Revenue circles) is about 308.23 km2, Surada Block (Panchayat Samiti) is 97,474.15 Hectares while area of Surada N.A.C is approximately 15.15 km2[2]
Surada Block consists 26 Gram Panchayats with 270 villages in it, and Surada Town (N.A.C.) with 11 wards as an urban administrative body.
The name SURADA is derived from Sanskrit which is a combination of two words Sura & Adda which literally means The place of Devas.
This place was earlier known as Surada Gada (ସୁରଡ଼ା ଗଡ଼) under Khindirisrunga (ଖିଣ୍ଡିରିଶୃଙ୍ଗ) or Khidisingi (ଖିଡ଼ିସିଙ୍ଗି) Mandala which comprised present day Surada, Dharakot, Sheragada blocks of Ganjam district (also includes some parts of Mohana block of Gajapati district).
In 1476, Raja Baliar Singh divided the Khidisingi kingdom into four different estates due to early demise of his elder son. Sorada Estate went to his third son, Raja Sandhadhanu Singh.[3]
Badagada – Raja Daman Singh (Baliar Singh's grandson from his eldest son)
Raja Sandhadhanu Singh a.k.a. Abhaya Pratap (1st Surada King)
Raja Bhagaban Singh
Raja Harihara Singh
Raja Krushna Singh (2)
Raja Gopal Singh
Raja Rai Singh
Raja Shyamasundara Singh
Raja Gadadhara Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
Raja Kunjabihari Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
Rani Radhamani Devi (Raja Kunjabihari's wife)
Raja Upendra Singh (Raja Shyamasundara's brother)
Raja Shyamasundara Singh (2) (Raja Upendra's son)
Raja Radhacharana Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
Raja Laxminarayan Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
Raja Janardana Singh (Raja Upendra's son)
Demographics
As of 2011[update] India census,[6] Surada had a population of 14,867. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Surada has an average literacy rate of 68.7%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 55.6%, and female literacy is 44.3%.
Maximum summer temperature is 37 °C; minimum winter temperature is 17 °C. The mean daily temperature varies from 33 °C to 38 °C. May is the hottest month; December is the coldest. The average annual rainfall is 1250 mm and the region receives monsoon and torrential rainfall from July to October.
There was probably a Dadhi Bamana statue prior to the temple exist now. In the second half of the 18th century, Raja Kunjabihari Singh (1775–1815) built the present Jagannath temple in the periphery of his palace. The land where the temple is about 125 feet in North-South direction and about 87-feet breadth in East-West direction. The Jagannath temple is about 65-feet length in East-West direction, about 31-feet breadth in North-South direction and about 60-feet in height.
Gopinath Temple
Raghunath Temple
Panchanan Temple
Panchanan Temple
There are 5 Shiva lingas in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. It is believed that Lingas were consecrated by Lord Rama while going to Lanka. The present temple built by Raja Narendra Dhabala (935-965).
Chandra Kalpeswara Temple
Dakhineswara Temple
Previously the Shiva linga was at the village which is now under Surada Dam. The linga was then transferred to Surada near Rushikulya river in 18th century.
Gopeswara Temple
Balukeswara Temple (Balunkeswara)
Mukteswara Temple
Brudha Lingeswara Temple - built by Khindirisrunga king Raja Bhimasen Dev (900–935).
Purakeswara Temple (Pudukeswara)
Nrusinghnath Temple - at Matha Sahi, Baradi and Sana Surada.
Sri Lakshmi Nrusinghnath Temple (In the periphery of Gopinath Temple)
Sri Chaitanya Temple (In front of Jagannath Temple)
Maa Kandhuni Devi Temple
Maa Khunteswari Temple (Situated at the hilltop of Khunteswari Hill)
Siddheswara Temple (In the periphery of Khunteswari temple)
Maa Giri Shobhini Temple (Maa Gidheisuni)
Kanaka Durga Temple
Krushnalila Kalika Temple (Sorada Punja)
Ramalila Kalika Temple (Baradi Punja)
Gramyalila Kalika Temple (Desua Punja)
Ganesh Temple
Aadapa Mandap
Maa Santoshi & Hanuman Temple (Near Panchanan Temple)
In the 17th century some Muslims had come to Surada. Nawab Zafer Ali built a mosque in Surada at that time. That old mosque had collapsed. So, in that place a new mosque was built.
Christian missionaries had come to Surada in around 1853. The Roman Catholic Church was built in between 1916-1919. The sound of the church bell can be heard in 5 km. radius around Surada. Around the church, there are four missionary schools. The Father of the Church is head of these institutions. The Bollywood Movie Bheegi Palkein starring Raj Babbar and Smita Patil was filmed here.
Dantilingi Church
There is another old church in Dantilingi village of Surada block. Every year, a special festival is celebrated in the memory of Mother Lurdu Marry. She was very kind and helpful to the local people while she was alive.
Surada is connected with National Highway 59 (India) (Khariar – Brahmapur) and State Highway 36 (Odisha) which connect Surada to other cities and towns of Odisha. The three-wheeler auto taxies and buses are the most important mode of transportation in this town.
There are eight ancient Shiva temples around Surada. It is believed to be auspicious to do pilgrimage all in one day, known as Asta Sambhu Yatra especially on Monday's of Shravan month or in Kartika Purnima.
Danda Nacha - Danda Nacha (Jatra) are ritualistic performances held during the hindu month of Chaitra for a period of 13 days. This is considered to be one of the traditional forms of worship. The performers showcase their performances in different villages. The performances are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali, which are symbolically represented by a Agni Danda. The participants showcase various items Agni Danda & a Pole decorated with multi-coloured clothes. The closing ceremony is known as Meru Yatra, which is observed on the day of Maha Vishuba Sankranti, also celebrated as Odia new year.
Surada Dam (Sorada Ghai) - This water reservoir was built in 1896. The water of Padma or Paatma river is reserved in it. At times, the water of this reservoir is channelised to Rushikulya river for irrigation. There is a children's park and a picnic spot at the adjacent site.[22]
Ratha Jatra - As the land of Jagannath, everywhere in Odisha Ratha Jatra is celebrated.
Kanta Pidha Jatra - An annual celebration of Goddess Kandhuni Devi of Surada spanning over the hindu month of Ashwin.
Kumar Purnima - Birthday of Lord Kartika. To celebrate this day, all wear new clothes, pray to Moon god and play cards from Dasahara to Kumar Purnami.
Rushikulya River - One of many holy rivers for Hindus. Every year people celebrate Baruni Mohosava (birthday of Rushikulya). It originates from Rushi Hills of Kandhamal and the mouth of this river is at Puruna Bandha, Chhatrapur of Ganjam district. It is believed that Rushikulya is 100 years elder than river Ganga. It is mentioned in Hindu epics like Varaha Purana and Mahabharata.[23]
Politics
Surada is a part of Surada Assembly Constituency. Current MLA from Surada Assembly Constituency is Purna Chandra Swain of BJD, who won the seat in State elections in 2009, 2014 & 2019 thrice consecutively. Previous MLAs from this seat were Kishore Chandra Singhdeo (2004) of BJP, before that Usharani Panda of INC who won this seat in 2000, Ananta Narayan Singh Deo representing BJP in 1995 and representing JNP in 1977, Shanti Devi of JD in 1990, Sharat Chandra Panda of INC in 1985, and Gantayat Swain of INC(I) in 1980.
Biju Patnaik had elected from Surada constituency in 1957 state elections.[24]
India
Odisha