Padmapur: Maa Tarasuni Peetha on the bank of the Dhanwatari river is one of the ancient shrines in Bhadrak district. However, monument lovers and locals alleged that the state government had given a short shrift to the shrine.
The temple is at Ato panchayat, 14 km from the sadar block. It had been set up about two centuries ago when the area was under the regime of royals and jamindars.
According to local legends, the temple was shrouded under dense forest which was home to a variety of wildlife like tigers, bears, porcupines and even king cobras. People have been warned against cutting down trees. It was believed that the goddess would be angry if trees are cut in her domain.
A legend has it that some potters came to the area to cut trees, but as soon as they started felling trees, one of them fainted.
His family members worshiped the goddess and tendered an apology for the tree cutting. After which the potter got back his sense.
The villagers have since been worshipping the goddess. Three generations of Umaprasad Mishra, a resident of Chhabhag Sasan, have also been offering pujas at the shrine everyday.
Bishubha Sankranti is very special for the deity, because ghata puja is performed two days before it.
Thousands of people set up earthen horses at the shrine for fulfillment of their wishes on Bishubha Sankranti. Patuas (devotees) prick their bodies with nails and live on vegetarian food throughout the Bisubha month.
People from Sabarangi, Goramati, Toranapada, Khirasahi, Ato, Bania, Pagada, Palli, Champundia, Kodandapur, Shada, Andarai, Dhamnara, Chandbali, Basudevpur, Padmapur and even neighbouring districts like Keonjhar, Jajpur and Balasore throng the shrine every Sunday and Saturday.
However, they face problems in the absence of drinking water and toilet facilities.
The shrine remains in the dark at night sans electricity. Despite efforts by locals, electrification of the shrine has not been possible yet, said locals.
Although the road to the temple has been in bad shape, no step was taken to set it right. Locals have formed a temple management committee.
Committee members – Sitikantha Mallick, Sushant Mahakud, Prabhasu Malick, Ratha Bhanja, Kamalakant Bhanj and Bataskhurnha Nayak — lamented that no fund was available for the development of the temple.
They demanded that the government recognize the shine as a monument and carry on development.
PNN