New snake species found in Berhampur city named Lycodon Odishi

Volunteers of Snake Helpline found the snake in Berhampur city in Ganjam district in July 2013

• Lycodon Odishi is the 297th species of snakes found in India - Debi Prasad Samal

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A new species of snake, discovered in Berhampur in Ganjam district last year, has been named after the state as Lycodon Odishi.

A research paper on the new species has been published by the Russian Journal of Herpetology, an international science journal, in its latest edition published on Friday. It was rescued by Snake Helpline, a voluntary organization working for the rescue and rehabilitation of snakes, and subsequently studied in depth by a group of amateur herpetologists and scholars from Odisha.

“The snake was found in Berhampur in July 2013 and brought to Bhubaneswar for further research. After months of research, it was found out that it is the 297th species of snakes found in India and the first in Odisha which is a matter of joy for us,” says Dr Sibaprasad Parida, noted herpetologist.

“Initially it was considered as Lycodon Jara species which was found in other parts of India. We got in touch with Russian Journal on Herpetology, a major international research organization on reptiles and snakes, and with further inputs and research we found out that there are 12 basic differences between Lycodon Odishi and Lycodon Jara with Odissi having distinct features like yellow ring on the borders of the body and different kind of body construction and egg inside it,” adds Dr Parida.

The research paper's author and secretary of Snake Helpline, Subhendu Mallik, explains “Lycodon Jara can grow up to 550mm whereas the length of Lycoden Odissi is 350 mm. This vast difference in length confirmed by Russian Journal on Herpetology gave the species a new name as it is only found in Odisha.”

Zoologist Dr Asish Mohanty who is a member of the research team, adds, “Although this species existed on earth they were never found and named. Two similar snakes are preserved in Regional museum of natural History here in Bhubaneswar.”

Bengalis in Berhampur celebrate Durga puja

Though they are far away from their homeland, the Bengali settlers in Odisha's Berhampur city, celebrate the annual Durga puja festival keeping their tradition intact. 

A group of Bengalis had started the Durga Puja for the first time in the silk city of Berhampur, about 81 years ago and they are continuing to celebrate the festival here with the similar pattern along with pomp and gaiety. 

"The Durga Puja is an integral part of the Bengali people. They celebrate the festival of autumn wherever they reside," said Sushant Ghosh, the president of the Adi Durga Puja Committee. The ritual stared from Mahasasthi and will be continued till Dusshera. 

"As we had started the Durga Puja in the town for the first time, we named it as the Adi(first) Durga Puja," said Sarajit Sarkar, an elderly member of the Bengali community here. The first Durga Puja was started by some Bengali employees working in the then Bengal-Nagpur Railway at railway station area here in 1933. 

The Bengalis, however, established a permanent pandal at Chatterjee lane, near Old Bus Stand to celebrate the Durga Puja. 

"We are celebrating the Durga Puja and other rituals since 1998 in the pandal," said Ashok Kumar Jana, a member of puja committee. "Not only the Bengali families, but other people including other faiths gathered here during the puja period," said Aurabinda Sarkar. 

It's also an occasion to get together of Bengali families in the town. About 300 Bengali families are living in the town. Some other families are here as they are working in several organizations, including defence, railway, banks and telecom. They also come to participate and celebrate the puja, said Ghose. 

"Even though we are celebrating the Durga Puja for last 81 years, we have been adopting the age old Bengali culture of Pujo," said Kalyani Dev. 

The priests, cooks and the artists to make the idol were brought from West Bengal. "Our aim is to keep alive the Bengali tradition while celebrating the Durga Puja here," said Abhijit Kundu. 

During the festive period, the children from the community perform cultural programmes. Baul Sangeet and the songs dedicated to Maa Durga were performed by the children, said Sibani Ray.

Lawyers on stir, demand HC Bench in Berhampur

Members of the Ganjam Bar Association on Tuesday boycotted court work demanding establishment of a permanent Bench of the Odisha High Court in Brahmapur.

The members also demanded that the Justice CR Pal Commission report on the demand for permanent HC Benches in different parts of the State be made public. “We denounce this report as we understand that it has not directly recommended establishment of a High Court Bench in Brahmapur,” said Bar president Basant Panda, adding, “We will continue our agitation till our demand is fulfilled.”

The members of the Bar including vice-president Siba Prasad Mishra, secretary Rama Prasad Panda and joint secretary Karunakara Panigrahi and senior lawyers like Prafulla Jagannath Padhy, Krushna Chandra Panda and Ashok Das staged a dharna in front of the court here.Earlier, the lawyers had decided that they would intensify the agitation during last four days of every month. On Tuesday, they ended their court boycott agitation and would join work from Wednesday.  

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Tara-Tarini Temple at Rourkela (Odisha)

Maa Tara Tarini during Shodasha Pooja (Dusshera)