Girodpuri

Author: Laxman Burdak IFS (R)

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Baloda Bazar district map

Kharaud-Shivrinarayan-Gidhauri-Giraudpuri

Giraud (गिरौद) or Giraudpuri (गिरौदपुरी) is a village in tahsil Kasdol of Baloda Bazar district in Chhattisgarh. It is located on Ram Van Gaman Path. Located beside the Jonk River, it is the birthplace of the Satnami sect's founder Guru Ghasidas, and a pilgrimage centre for the Satnamis.

Variants

• Girod (गिरोद)
• Girodpuri (गिरोदपुरी)
• Giraudpuri (गिरौदपुरी)

History

Guru Ghasidas Jaitkham, Girodpuri, Baloda Bazar, Chhattisgarh

The village is notable as the birth place of Guru Ghasidas, the founder of the Satnam panth (religious sect). It is a major place of pilgrimage (dham) for the Satnamis. His son Balakdas purchased land in Girodhpuri to strengthen the Satnami sect. A jayanti mela (birth anniversary fair) held in honour of Ghasidas was first held in Giraudpuri in 1932.

The village was originally known as Girod. By the time Chhattisgarh became a state in 2000, the Satnamis had become a politically important voting group. The state government renamed the village to "Girodpuri" ("Girod town"), and started developing the area as a tourist centre to generate income, and to gain the political support of the Satnamis. The government built a temple, surrounded by other infrastructure such as hostels, parking areas, and space for the makeshift shops and stalls to be set up during the annual mela. The government also developed roads leading to the area, and advertised the site as an important pilgrimage centre of the state. As a result of these efforts, the attendance at the mela increased from around 20,000 in 2001 to over 500,000 in 2008.

In 2022, the INC-led Chhattisgarh government announced that the village will be renamed to "Baba Guru Ghasidas Dham Giroudpuri".

Tourism

The main landmark of the village is Guru Ghasidas Jaitkham, a 77 metre high tower used as a pilgrimage centre by the Satnamis. A jaitkham ("victory pillar") is a Satnami object of worship, and a symbol of their distinct sectarian identity. It is also known as Jaithkham, Jaitkhambh, Jait Khamba, Jait Khamb, or Jai Stambh. The Jaitkham at Giraudpuri was commissioned by the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government.

Charan Kund, sacred pond, is another pilgrimage site in the village. Amrit Kund, a pond whose water is said to be sweet, is located a kilometre from the village. The annual Giraudpuri Mela (fair), also known as the "Guru Darshan Mela", is held at the village.