Hanumangarh district

This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Hanumangarh.

Historical Bhatner fort in the city of Hanumangarh

File:Map rajasthan dist Hanumangarh.png

Hanumangarh District in Rajasthan

Hanumangarh District (Hindi: हनुमानगढ़ ज़िलाPunjabi: ਹਾਨੁਮਾਨਗੜ੍ਹ ਜ਼ਿਲਾ) is a district of Rajasthan state of western India. The town of Hanumangarh is the district headquarters'.

District profile

The district is located in the extreme north of Rajasthan. It has an area of 12,645 km², a population of 1,779,650 (2011 census) and a population density of 184 persons/km². It is bounded on the north by Punjab state, on the east by Haryana state, on the south by Churu District of Rajasthan, and on the west by Ganganagar District of Rajasthan. The major work of the district is farming; major crops include rice, millet, cotton, sonamukhi,wheat, and vegetables.

This is the 31st district of Rajasthan. It was made as district on 12 July 1994 from Sri Ganganagar district. Earlier it was one of the Tehsils of Sri Ganganagar district.

The district contains the archaeological site of Kalibangan, Indus Valley Civilisation), and Pallu.

Hanumangarh also has a famous fort called as Bhatner Fort.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census Hanumangarh district has a population of 1,779,650, roughly equal to the nation of The Gambia or the US state of Nebraska. This gives it a ranking of 269th in India (out of a total of 640). Hanumangarh is one of the highest per capita income earning district in India.

The district has a population density of 184 inhabitants per square kilometre (480/sq mi) . Its population growth rate over the decade 2001–2011 was 17.24%. Hanumangarh has a sex ratio of 906 females for every 1000 males and a literacy rate of 68.37%.

Languages

Hindi is official language.Bagri,a dailect of Rajasthani language and Punjabi language with Malvayi dailect is spoken by majority of population .Besides Haryanyavi, Sindhi,Sansi,Sikh Bawari are other languages and dailects spoken at small level.

Bagri

Vernaculars include Bagri, a tonal language in the Rajasthani cluster spoken by the majority.The district boasts of land of many Rajasthani writers in this dailect.Many villages in southen area are famous centers for Rajasthani writers .

Punjabi language

Punjabi is second most spoken language of the district.Punjabi has its ground as second language  specially in the northern areas like Sangaria, Hanmangarh,Pilibanga tehsils.Punjabi is taught as third language in many schools and also opted by students up to  postgraduation level.

The Malwayi dailect is most comnon dailect of Punjabi language here.other dailects are Bahawalpuri,Multani spoken by Arora,RaiSikhs communities. Culture

Rural kutcha homes with folk art can be seen in some remote villages, but this art is losing ground. Bagri(jaat) culture dominates the district.

Such scenes are common in some southern villages. The embroidered Odhni (mostly red in colour) is a symbol of Bagri women. A long shirt and ghaghro (long frock type clothes) and borlo (a head ornament) is the traditional dress of Bagri women. Punjabi women wear a suit and salwar with chunni (cloth on head). This attire has also become popular with women of other communities. Some women of the Hindu and Muslim Seraiki people still wear ghaggra (long frock).The Purdah (or veil) is mainly in vogue among Bagri women. Men mainly wear a pant-shirt, kurta-payjama and dhoti (Punjabis call it the chadara-kurta). Punjabi music is very popular and are listened to with the same enthusiasm as in other northern Indian regions.

Tehsils

Hanumangarh district has seven tehsils: Hanumanendira colne garh, Sangaria, Rawatsar, Nohar, Bhadra, Tibbi and Pilibanga.

Fairs and carnivals

Bhadrakali Mela The historical Bhadrakali is situated 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the district headquarters. The sixth emperor of Bikaner Maharaja Ram Singh is said to have constructed this temple on Badshah Akbar's desire. Though pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year but during the Mela days on Chaitra Sudi 8 and 9, thousands of pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan visit the temple to worship Bhadrakali.

Pallu Mela Pallu, around 80 kilometres (50 mi) from the district headquarters is surrounded by sand dunes and is where Mata Brahmani Mela takes place during Navaratras.

Shila Mata Mela Shila Mata Mela takes place on every Thursday near Bus Stand, Hanumangarh Town. This 6' x 2.5' x 2' size stone is worshiped by Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. The Hindus-Sikhs call this Shila Mata and Muslims call it Shila Peer.

Shaid Baba Sukha Singh ji, Mahitab Singh ji Yadgari Mela Shaid Baba Sukha Singh, Mahitab Singh came to Hanumangarh where he rest under a tree where in present a big fantastic Sikh Gurudawara close to Bhatner fort and it is said that tree still exists.A fair on every '25, Bhadhon Mahina' (a Hindi month) is joined by people from all castes and religion including various political leaders.This shows harmony among various groups in society of Hanumangarh and Rajasthan.

Gogameri Mela Gogameri Mela takes place on every year in Nohar Tehsil.

References

• Hanumangarh district Official website