Yavatmal


Yavatmal and mal. It is famous for the grand celebration of Durga festival. It ranks 2nd after Kolkata in the enormous decorations of Durga mandapam.
The mini train called Shakuntala is a historic remark built by the British government to transport cotton.

History

Formerly known as "Yeoti" or "Yeotmal", Yavatmal was the main town of the Berar Sultanate and according to old writings "the safest place in the world". The then region of Yavatmal, was part of the dominion of Aladdin Hassan Bahman Shah who founded the Bahmani Sultanate in 1347. In 1572, Murtaza Shah, ruler of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate, annexed the Yavatmal district. In 1596, Chand Bibi, warrior queen of Ahmadnagar, ceded the district of Yavatmal to the Mughal Empire, then rulers of a large part of India. Following the death of the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707, Yavatmal was passed on to the Maratha Empire. When Raghoji I Bhonsle became ruler of the Nagpur kingdom in 1783, he included the Yavatmal district in his territory. After the British East India Company created Berar Province in 1853, Yavatmal became part of East Berar District in 1863 and later part of the South East Berar district—both districts of the Central Provinces and Berar. Yavatmal remained part of Madhya Pradesh until the 1956 reorganization of states when it was transferred to the Bombay State. With the creation of the Maharashtra state on 1 May 1960, Yavatmal district became a part of the same.

Demographics

As of 2011 Indian Census, Yavatmal had a total population of 116,551, of which 58,549 were males and 58,002 were females. Population within the age group of 0 to 6 years was 11,360. The total number of literates in Yavatmal was 96,726, which constituted 82.9% of the population with male literacy of 85.1% and female literacy of 80.9%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Yavatmal was 91.9%, of which male literacy rate was 94.8% and female literacy rate was 89.1%. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes population was 19,816 and 6,543 respectively. Yavatmal had 26173 households in 2011.

Language

The principal language of the Yavatmal district is Marathi however Varhadi dialect of Marathi majorly spoken by people of Yavatmal. However, since the district has numerous Scheduled and Nomadic Tribes, other languages such as Gormati or Banjari, Gondi, Urdu, Telugu and Kolami are also spoken in parts of district. In 1973, the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was hosted in the city for the first time which was presided over by Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar. Second time, it was hosted on 11 January 2019 chaired by Vaishali Yende, widow of a suicide victim farmer, to highlight the issue of farmer suicides in the area.

Festivals

Yavatmal is famous for its unique Navratri festival celebration, whole city is known for organizing huge celebration events for Navratri. It ranks 2 after Kolkata in the enormous decorations of durga mandapam. People from nearby cities like Nanded, Amravati come to city to enjoy the festival. People from across different part of India visits the place every Navratri. Every alley and colony establish Durga Idol and they have their own competition to make their celebration huge. Every year something unique has been done in all 'Devi Mandals' like making the structures of wine bottles, thermocol,throwing flowers from aeroplane, puppet show and storytelling of Mahabharat and Ramayana stories. People enjoy watching this with their family.At night, whole city shines like star. People are fully dedicated to Durga devi for 9 days of Navratri. Municipal corporation of Yavatmal are discussing to allow 4 days holidays to all municipal school during Navratri festival.
Yavatmal is also called as 'Kolkata of Maharashtra' for its unique Navratri celebration.Though Maharashtra is famous for Ganesh festival,Yavatmal has its different identity for grand festivities of Navratri.
Festivals like Gudi Padwa, Diwali, Dussehra, Bakar-Eid, Ramadan, Christmas, Easter Sunday and almost all Hindu, Muslim and Christian occasions are celebrated. The district is also home to a Buddhist community.

Climate

This city has a tropical climate. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification is Aw. In Yavatmal, the average annual temperature is 26.8 °C. The rainfall here averages 946 mm.

Transport

Roads

The National Highway NH 44 passes through the district at Vadki, Karanji, Pandharkawada, Patanbori, and Kelapur. The state highway passes through Ner, Yavatmal, Jodmoha, Mohada, Umari, Karanja and Wani. The National highway 361 passes through Kalamb, Yavatmal, Arni, and Umarkhed.

Railways

Yavatmal is the southern terminus of the narrow gauge railway known locally as the Shakuntala Railway. This line is composed of two legs intersecting with the broad gauge Howrah-Nagpur-Mumbai line at Murtijapur — the northern leg to Achalpur and the southeastern leg to Yavatmal. Darwha Station lies on this line.
Another line, Majri–Mudkhed line passes through the district. Wani is a railway station on this line.
The state cabinet has approved Wardha–Nanded rail link project. This railway line will connect Wardha–Yavatmal in Vidarbha with Nanded in Marathwada.

Airport

is located east of the city of Yavatmal and has been taken up by Reliance Airport Developers Ltd for development.

Economy

During British rule, Yavatmal city was classified as a hill station. Both cotton-ginning and pressing are carried on in Yavatmal, while the town is also the chief trading center in the district and connected by road with Dhamangaon station, away. Major business establishments in Yavatmal include the Raymonds factory which produces special fiber for jeans. There are establishments related to the cotton, and textile industries. There is a textile Special Economic Zone under construction while HLL Unilever has also decided to restart the plant they currently have in the city. Other local businesses in the town are dominated by the presence of agricultural supply facilities used by the nearby farming community. Banking services are available in the Yavatmal, Arni, Ner, Pusad, Digras, Ghatanji and Pandharkawada and Wani areas. The major industrial centres are at: MIDC Lohara, Darwha, Digras, Pusad, Umerkhed, Wani, Umari, Pandharkawada, Ralegaon and Babhulgaon, Ner, and Wani-Maregaon with the main market places in: Yavatmal City, Arni, Wani, Darwha, Digras, Ghatanji, Mohada, Pusad, Umerkhed and Pandharkawada.

Education

Prominent educational institutes:
Government Polytechnic, Government Residential Women's Polytechnic, Jawaharlal Darda Engineering and Technical Institute, Jagdamba College of Engineering,
Yavatmal Municipal Council was constituted in 1869 but was dissolved shortly thereafter.
It was established again in 1894 and thus forms the oldest municipal council in the district. Mr. Eliot was first mayor and Lieutenant, W. Hege was deputy mayor. Mr. Govind Punaji Bari was the first Indian president of the Yavatmal Municipal council. The first elections conducted for the position of president of municipal council were held on 22 December 1934. Prior to that the same was appointed.

Notable people