Kendrapara: The centuries-old Panchubarahi temple that was shifted from Satabhaya to Bagapatia rehabilitation colony under Rajnagar block of Kendrapara district is all set to be brought under the tourism map, reports said.
Bijaya Mohanty, the district tourism officer of Kendrapara recently submitted a petition with the State Tourism Department to include the 400-year-old unique temple in the State tourist‘s map. Meanwhile, the department is contemplating to give tourist tag to the temple, it was learnt.
Keeping in mind the religious sentiments of the residents of Satabhaya, the district administration had shifted the temple due to constant threat from sea erosion. The residents here believe that the deities have been saving their lives and properties from the marauding sea.
As many as 571 families of Satabhaya were resettled at the Bagapatia rehabilitation colony in view of the sea erosion as Satabhaya was an inaccessible seaside village. One had to cross a crocodile infested Bausagadi river and trek 12 km long bad road to reach the temple for which only few were able to visit the temple.
So, the district administration resettled the people of Satabhaya along with the shrine as the new address of the temple is well connected with good road and attracts more visitors.
A unique characteristic of the temple is that male devotees are debarred from entering the sanctum sanctorum during the bathing ritual of the deities. Besides, women belonging to the sabar tribal community have the exclusive rights to perform daily rituals of the deities.
At present, five priestesses have been worshiping the deities in temple on rotation basic. Men are disallowed to act as priests. So are the widows. Male members are also debarred from touching the goddess.
“The temple situates within Bhitarkanika National Park for which many tourists, including overseas tourists who visit Bhitarkanika will also visit the rare temple during their journey to the India’s second largest mangroves forest,” said tourism officer Mohanty.
Recently, the officials of state tourist department visited the famous temple and enquired on its development.
“We are happy that the steps are being taken to include the temple in the state’s tourist map,” said Rashmita Sahani, sarpanch of Satabhaya grampanchayat.