Mirzapur
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Mirzapur
Uttar Pradesh, India |
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 Mirzapur
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| District(s) | Mirzapur |
| Coordinates | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Area • Elevation |
• 80 m (262 ft) |
| Population | 205,264 (2001) |
| Codes • Postal • Telephone |
• 231301 • +5442 |
Mirzapur pronunciation is a city in the heart of North India, nearly 650 km between Delhi and Kolkata and also equidistant from Allahabad and Varanasi. Located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, Mirzapur has a population of a little over 205,264 (2001 census) and is renowned for its famous carpet and brassware industry. It is a city with several spots around it including many hills such as Rajdari, Devdari, Lakhaniyadari, and Windom fall range and Sirshi. It is the headquarter of Mirzapur District. The Indian Standard Time is calculated from the clock tower in Mirzapur.[1]
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[edit] History
Reports suggest that Mirzapur was a commercial city, being situated on the banks of the river Ganges. These reports are backed by the Naar Ghat, a carved stone with rates of toll taxes of Ashokan times inscribed on it.
Most of the city was established by English officers, and so places are named after Englishmen like Wellesleyganj (Lord Wellesley), Muker Bazar (Lord Mercury), Dankeen Ganj (Mr. Danseen), and a famous waterfall of the city, Windham Water Fall (Mr. Windham). The Municipal Corporation building was also built by the English Government.
On the outskirts of the area, there is a patch of forest that contains ancient wall paintings, called Lekhania Dari and there are small rapids at the place. This has made it a popular picnic spot among residents of nearby cities. The forest area is still inhabited by some tribes. Possibly, ten tribes are still present in the region.
The indigenous ruler Sheikh Mirza was captured by the British government, and so the city was documented by the British as Mirzapur due to the name of its ruler. Some information about an ancient city near the local Kacchwa Bazar has also been found, but is awaiting concrete proof.
It is also locally believed that the town was founded by Raja Nanner and was known as Girijapur, but after the British conquest it came to be known as Mirzapur. The earliest mention of the town is found in the writings of Tieffenthaler, who drew up his description of the country between 1760 and 1770. He mentioned it under the name of Mirzapur, especially as a great mart. In the records of Jonathan Duncan, who was a resident of Varanasi, frequent mention is made of the place as Mirzapur. Before 1 April, 1989, Mirzapur was the largest district of India. Mirzapur is also a Naxalite hot spot.
[edit] Geography
Mirzapur is located at [2]. It has an average elevation of 80 metres (265 feet).
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001 India censusGRIndia, Mirzapur had a population of 205,264. Males constitute 54% of the population and females 46%. Mirzapur has an average literacy rate of 62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 69%, and female literacy is 54%. In Mirzapur, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Commerce
The main business in Mirzapur is carpet manufacturing. Manufacturers range from very small (with less than $100,000 in assets) to medium sized (with around $10M in assets). Most of the carpets are sold internationally as India has a limited market for carpets.
[edit] Vindhyachal
A few miles away from this city is a site of pilgrimage to Hindus known as Vindhyachal where according to the mythology a part of Sati (an avatar of Durga) fell. The river Ganges flows through this city. Other sites of pilgrimage include Kali Khoh (literally 'the cave of the Goddess Kali') where a statue of the Kali has a mouth formed in the shape of a cave, hence the name. Very close to the city is a waterfall.
The city itself has many Ghats (steps to a river). There are a few cinema-halls. At first look the city appears to be a confluence of town, village and city life. Bijli or electricity supply is very irregular and there are regular power cuts in the region.
[edit] Culture Of The City
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Culture means life full with the color of etiquette. Etiquette is produce by soul, sayings and service. Every culture has its own philosophy & thoughts, only that culture & that society is said to be great which has, serving to people & society, as its ambitions.
Mirzapur culture is complete in itself from this point of view. this is full of ganga-jamuni tehajeeb, life styles, local behaviors, languages, music's, folk dances & regional poetry. That is why the civilization that develops here is combination of rural & urban life styles which can be easily felt & seen in the style of local languages & behavior.
1)The Life Style:- to know & feel mirzapur life style & language, words are not enough to described, if we view at one side of this coin then we will get information about dhoti, kurta & a towel (gamachhaa) on solders of men, the other side of this cultural coin indicates about the scented regional perfumes & earrings on male. Women along with sarees, kara, bangles, bajuband, kakani, in hands & hasali on the neck, bichhiya on the toes, kanachadi in the ears put on kardhani in the waist. Mirzapuri is the local language.
2)Festival of the City:- It is well known culture take its growth only where the economical growth is there and since historical evidences proves that Mirzapur was one of the ancient commercial city. The cultural meets and festivals along with local geo-psycho behavior have its impact on the mirzapur culture. Which is very much diverse in nature, self-developed and ancient. In context of these things kajali song, in the festivals, jeevitputrika (jutiya), Ganga Deshahara, lalahi chattha, shardiya & vasantik navratra, ojhala ka mela, lohandi ka mela, the famous Vindhya Mahotsava, horaha gaderi ka mela, litti bati ka mela, maa bhandari ka mela. The nature has tried to facilitate its local to enjoy the above said occasions with full of its support.
3)Kajari Mahotsava:- It is among the famous festival of mirzapur. Respected all over India kajali took birth here.King kantit naresh's daughter kajali, who loved her husband very much and sang songs in the separation moment from his husband, although she could not met her husband all over her life and died yet she remains alive through this deep sad-love songs. This impress mirzapur locals her voice & songs very much, so remembers her through this festival paying homage to her.
4)Lohandi Mela:- 2 km . south to mirzapur an old temple of lord Hanuman is decorated with light (ghee ke deeye) on kartik purnima and every Saturday in the month of saawan (hindu month of rain) mid of july-august, a big fair is arranged. The attraction is tattoo design. Ojhala Mela. Ojhala is current name of river ujjvala. A fair is arranged regularly here since 1920. Which is sign of bravery and the only place in India where betting is legal on the days of fair.
5)Vindhyavasini Jayanti Samaaroh:- Started since 1971 this musical program is arranged by the Government where renowned Indian vocal and folk artists give real presentation and worship goddess Vindhyavasini.
6)Deep Mahotsava:- Celebrated on the day of diwali, all the Ganga ghats are decorated with lights (ghee ke deeye), locals have immense pleasure celebrating this on kartik amavasya. Jhoolanotsava. In the month of saawan celebrated by locals during rain, this Jhoolanotsava is celebrated with swings in the branch of trees 5 days Shree Dwarkadheesh Temple , Ganga Jamuna Saraswati Temple and Kunj Bhawan are decorated.
[edit] Chunar
About 32 km from Mirzapur is the famous fortress of Chunar.
Thete are some rock paintings in Mizapur district
