LANGUAGE AND RELIGION

 

 Languages

The main language that is spoken in Sundargarh district is locally known as Sundargadi, which is a form of the Sambalpuri Language or Kosali. People of Agariya community speak Agariya language. In village areas that borders Jharsuguda district of Odisha and Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, the main language is Agariya, as most of the total population is Agariya. As Sundargarh is a tribal dominated district Mundari, Kurukh, Ho, Kharia, Santali languages are spoken as mother tongue by the concerned tribal people. Santali is written in Ol Chiki script. Like Odia language, Santali language is also specified in the eighth schedule of the constitution of India. Every year an All India test is held in Santali language which is equivalent to the 10th class exam. Sadri language is the lingua franca among tribal people of this district. Hindi is understood and spoken by people of the district due to its close proximity with Jharkhand & Chhattisgarh. Due to cosmopolitan character, people of Rourkela use Standard Odia or Standard Hindi as medium of communication. However English and Odia languages are used for all official purpose.