Bargaon, Odisha

Bargaon or Baragan is a village under Khariar Tahasil in Nuapada district of Odisha state in India. It is situated 10 km away from sub-district headquarters Khariar and 63 km towards south from district headquarters Nuapada. The word "Bargaon" is composed of two words, "Bara" means 'Divine' and "gaan" means 'village'. On the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the village was recognised as "Lok Kala Gram" of Nuapada district by the Dept. Of Language, Literature, and Culture, Government of Odisha.

Economy
Bargaon comes under a rain shadow belt. It has a weekly bazaar that takes place in every Tuesday. Most people of Bargaon are middle-class, which includes government employees like Junior Clerks, School Teachers, Forest Guards, Fireman, Odisha Police, OSAP, SOG Army, Small shopkeepers, businessmen etc.

Bank
In 1984, a branch Kalahandi Anchalik Bank was established in the village to improve the economic standards of people. Nowadays, it is known as Utkal Grameen Bank.

Offices
There are some government offices in the village:
 * Post Office
 * Panchayat Office
 * 33KV BARGAON Electrical Sub-Station
 * Office of the Revenue Inspector (R.I.)
 * BARGAON Indane Gas
 * Veterinary and Artificial Breeding Centre
 * Primary Agriculture Cooperative Society (PACS) Office

Healthcare facilities


Basic health care facilities available in the village.
 * Primary Health Centre (PHC)
 * Primary Health Sub-centre (PHS)
 * Maternity and Child Welfare Centre (MCW)
 * BARGAON Digital Hospital & Dispensary

Geography
Bargaon is a village located within the Nuapada district. It is located at 20.34°N 82.68°E. It has an average elevation of 228m. The village has an area of 505 hectares.

There are few government and private schools in the village. Odia language is the local language of the people here.

Places of Interest

 * Chakadongar: A round-shaped hill is situated in the eastern part of the village. The NH353 passes through the hill. Maa Chakadongren temple is situated here.Maa Chakadongaren Temple.jpg
 * Teteldongri: Teteldongri and Uddhlu are another hillside situated on the north side of the village. Below the Teteldongri a pond (called parject) is situated and a minor canal passes nearby.
 * Dadhibaman Pokhari: A pond is situated in the northeast part of the village. The people of Bargaon use it for daily baths. Maa Bandhgosen temple is situated at the centre of the pond.
 * Sundar River: One of the main tributaries of the Tel River which flows into the Mahanadi. It is perennial and effluent in nature and maintains sluggish flow during peak summer months. It is also called as The Indra River in several places. Lower Indra Dam or Tikhali Dam is constructed in this river roughly 5 km from Bargaon.

Most of the people of Bargaon and nearby villages depend upon this river for baths as well as for drinks.

How to Reach
The village is well connected with roads to many towns. National Highway 353 passes near the village, which leads to many cities such as Raipur, Mahasamund, Khariar Road, Nuapada, Bhawanipatna, and Rayagada.

The nearest Railway Station is Kantabanji(40 km) and the nearest Railway Junction is Titlagarh which is 60 km away from Bargaon whereas the nearest airport located is at Raipur (170 km) in Chhattisgarh.

Demographics
As of the 2011 census, the population was 2,120. Of those, 270 of those are under the age of 7, representing 12.74% of the population. The literacy rate within the village is estimated at 67.41%.

Nursery Education
There are several Anganwadi Centre functioning in Bargaon for all round development of the children.


 * Anganwadi Centre -1
 * Anganwadi Centre -2
 * Anganwadi Centre -3
 * Anganwadi Centre -4
 * Anganwadi Centre -5

Primary Education
Primary Education plays an important role for the development of children in all aspects. However, the primary education have been working in the village since 1918.

Bargaon Centre Primary School is one of the oldest school of the undivided Kalahandi district.

The school has celebrated its centenary in December, 2018.


 * Centre Primary School: The school was established in 1918. It is situated at the centre of the village. About 102 batches successfully passed from this school.
 * Sabarpada Project Primary School: The school was established in 2002 under the Project of District Primary Education Programme (DPEP), Govt. Of Odisha.
 * Kamajori Project Primary School: The school was established in 2007 and is managed by Dept. Of School & Mass Education, Govt. Of Odisha.
 * Bendrabahal Primary School: Bendrabahal Primary School was established in 1966 on the right side of the main road to Bargaon.
 * English M Public School, Bargaon.
 * Bargaon U.P./ M.E. School, Bargaon: Bargaon Upper Primary School was established in 1957 is managed by the Dept. Of School and Mass Education, Govt. Of Odisha. Odia is the medium of instruction in the school. The school has a well building and has a library. In the year 2017 the school was merged with the Jai Kishan High School, Bargaon.

Secondary & Higher Education
For Secondary & Higher Education, there's a Government Higher Secondary School named,


 * Jai Kishan High School, Bargaon (Upgraded to Govt. Higher Secondary School) Established in 1972 by the natives of Bargaon. Later on, the Government of Odisha taken over the responsibility of the school.

Nowadays the school is considered as a hub of education in the district. It provides education to both boys and girls from class 6th to class 12th (+2). Both Red Cross and Bharat Scouts & Guides (BSG) are functioning in the school.

Religious Place
There are 4 Shiv temple in the village. Besides these there are some Devi mandir also present in the village. Maa Chakadongren, Maa Bandhgosen is worshipped as the Village devi.

Festivals and rituals
Many festivals are celebrated in the village. These include: During the festival, The chariot of Lord Jagannath drawn by a huge number of devotees from Bargaon Jagannath Temple to Bendrabahal Gundicha Temple where he reside there for a week and then return to home. The day of returning of Lord is called Bahuda Jatra.
 * Rathyatra: The largest Hindu chariot fastival of Odisha also celebrated in Bargaon each year during the month of July.
 * Durga Puja: It is one of the most remarkable major festival or Puja celebrated in the village every year. The festival is observed in the month Ashwina, every year. For the first time, it was starts in the year 1982 and continue celebrated.
 * Shivaratri: It is another festival celebrated in Bargaon every year. It celebrates in Honor of Lord Shiva. According to the fact, it has been celebrating in the village since 1990.
 * Shri Shri Basant Madhumangal Raasleela: The most important festival is Raasleela, celebrated every year in the month January or February. It is the festival of Shri Krishna, celebrated for eight days. Some children and some Adults play the role of different characters such as Krishna, Balaram, Madhumangal, Sudam, Subal, King, Dashi, and Shakhi. Kokolila is the most popular night of Raasleela, it is generally celebrated in the third night of the festival. Since 1889, it was celebrated every year in the village.

Some other national and regional festivals are also celebrated in the village. They include Holi, Diwali, Nuakhai, Puspuni, Ganesha Puja, and Gaja Laxmi Puja.