A Scenic Spot - Budhokhol (Buguda, Ganjam District, Orissa)

Budhokhol, variously spelt as Buddhokhol, Buddhakhola or Brudhkhol is situated at a distance of 70 km from Berhampur. Just 3 km north of Buguda, in Ganjam District, Orissa. The place comprises of lush green forests, caves, few Budha statues with five Shiva Temples situated at a height on the backdrop of a waterfall. Deep in to the forest you will find caves (Sidha Gumpha). A favourite picnic spot for students of Orissa.

The place is famous for a cluster of five Shiva temples with exquisite sculptures, situated on the top of a hill, dedicated to Lord Siva, popularly known as Pancha Mahadeva. This scenic spot situated amidst natural surroundings is frequently visited by tourists and picnickers. The 30 ft high Kuvareswar Temple is worth visiting. The sight of snakes coming to take the milk offered to Shiva will be an awesome experience.

At the upper most part of the hill a perennial stream forms a waterfal. A number of Buddhist remains have been found at the place which give the impression that it was a Buddhist settlement in ancient days. Not far from the place there are numerous caves one of which is called Siddha Gumpha where Buddhist monks were said to have performed meditation in old days. On Sivaratri, Mondays of Kartika and Kartika Purnima days a large number of people gather here to offer Puja at the temple.

Numerous Buddhist remnants found here provides an impression that it was an ancient Buddhist settlement. There are several caves near this place of which Siddha Gumpha is the prominent cave where Buddhist monks used to perform meditation in old days.

Budhokhol can be reached by good motor-able road from Berhampur. Berhampur Railway Station (on the Bhubaneswar-Vizianagaram line) is the nearest railhead (70 km).

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Other nearest places to visit: Biranchi Narayan Temple at Buguda, and Shinghashini

Biranchi Narayan Temple:
Biranchi Narayan Temple, popularly known as ‘Wooden Konark’ is an ancient shrine situated at Buguda. It was built by King Srikar Bhanja in 1790.

The presiding deity here is Biranchi Narayan. The image of Lord Biranchi Narayan was recovered from the ruins of Malatigarh. Biranchi Narayan Temple is built in the form of a chariot driven by seven horses. The temple is noted for its exquisite wood carvings and beautiful wall paintings. Maghasaptami, Samba Dashami, Rath Yatra, Danda Yatra (April), Durga Puja and Kali Puja are the major festivals celebrated here. There is a Jagannath Temple situated at the other end of the main road.

Shinghashini:
20 km from Buguda, a domestic picnic spot aromatized with wild flowers and verdant forest. Presence of Goddess “Shinghashini” make visitors of all ages to itinerary again and again.

About Buguda:
Buguda is a small town situated about 70 km from Berhampur, in Ganjam District of Orissa. The place is of great historical as well as archeological importance - major point of attraction are the post Gupta paintings and the ever absorbing copper and wooden carvings of Biranchi Narayana Temple, built in 1790. This is considered a land mark in the history of mural paintings and carvings.

Chandan Yatra and Construction of Lords’ chariots begins

The famous Chandan Yatra of Lord Jagannath began on Thursday on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya.

As per the tradition, the representative idols of Jagannath, Madan Mohan, Laksmi and Saraswati, accompanied by Panch Shivas, were taken in a procession on separate palanquins on the shoulders of temple servitors called Vimanbadus to the Narendra Tank where the deities were given a sandalwood paste bath and taken on a boat ride to beat the summer heat.

Members of various Jaga Ghars (schools of physical exercise) participated in the procession displaying their martial art skills along the Grand Road, popularly known as Bada Danda.

The deities would return to the temple late in the night. The routine would go on for 21 days everyday before culminating after the traditional Bhaunri khela. Construction of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra for the annual Rath Yatra began here on the Akshay Trutiya day on Thursday by the traditional temple carpenters.

The construction work began after the temple priests handed over the Agyanmala to the chiefs of the carpenter community. They were given pagri from the temple administration to begin the work. The three chief carpenters, after fashioning sarees on their heads, put their axes on the timber logs kept on the Rath construction yard.

The Rath Yatra is scheduled on July 4 while the Bahuda Yatra and the famous Sunavesha of the three deities would be held on July 12 and 13 respectively.

Devotion Knows no Pain

Balasore. Penance and discipline have steeled their body against the scorching heat as they move out in processions by piercing their bodies with nails and dancing barefoot under the hot sun. They claim for their devotion towards the God, they don’t experience any pain.

Come Biasakh (the first Oriya month in between April and May), the premises of Chandaneswartemple turns alive as lakhs of devotees throng the Shiva temple to observe a unique celebration called “Chadak Mela”. Here hunbreds of devotees pierce their bodies with nails and walk along the temple premises seeking blessing from the almighty.

The festival is observed in two phases- “Nila Parva” and “Pata Parva”. “Nila Parva” was concluded with the secret marriageof Lord Shiva yesterday while in “Pata Parva”, the patuas (devotees) got the nails piercied in their skins and movedout in procession today. Over two lakh devotees witnessed it.

The celebration stars a month before Baisakh Sankranti. “The yatra, an annual phenomenon, is said to have originated here some200 years ago. The participants, called patus are usually those who have taken a vow to participate in the yatra for the fulfilment of their wishes. However, these is no caste bar,” said Bibhudutta Mishra, a priest.

The patuas wear saffron coloured clothes and stay away from their families whilre worshipping Lord Shiva for a month. They take vegetarian food only once a day. Despite the strict conditions, the number of participant has been increasing over theyears. This year over 60,000 devotees had registered their names to offer puja.

The festival is a unique festival in Orissa as unlike other Shiva pithas, fishes are sacrificed here here in Chandaneswar Shiva temple. “Animals are often sacrified at the altar of shakti pithas. But here in the shiva pitha two big gadgon fishes are sacrificed to appease demon princess Kamina whom Shiva marries secretly once in a year,” said chief priest of the temple Jayram Panda.

by Hemanta Kumar Routa

Ready for Patua Yatra

Come Maha Bisuva Sankranti in Baisakh, Devotees throng Gangaswar temple of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati at Matanagar under Mirjapur gram panchayata to participate in the Patua Yatra.

The Yatra, an annual event, is said to have originated here some400 years back and is famous for its Patua nacha. The dance presented here is in four different forms – Charki Patua, Kanta Patua, Khanda Patua and Agni Patua.

Different rituals are followed for separate dance forms. In Charki Patua, two Patuas are hung from the hooks suspended from the two sides of a wheel supported on on a pillar, which is continuously rotated. The Kanta Patua have to lie on thorny bushes with the priest walking on their back. While Khanda Patua dances over swords, the Agni Patuas walk over a bed of burning charcoal, which is 20 to 30 feet in length.

The participants or dancers, called Patuas, are usually those who have vowed to participate in the dance for fulfilment of their wishes and there is no caste bar for participation. The Patuas arrive at Gangeswar temple five days prior to the Maha Bisuva Sankranti and observe many rituals which are meant for “purification” of body and mind.

During the dance, the Patuas are said to be transported to a spiritually enchanted state, called Kalisi. During the festival, people invite these dancers to their homes to seek their blessings.

At the end of the festival, the Patuas take a holy dip in “Patua Pokhari” at Dharmghatpur.

by Arbinda Panda