Jagannath, Balavadra and Subhadra worshipped in one idol

Balasore, Jul 27 (UNI) In a unique presentation, the villagers of Gud under Soro block have been worshipping a deity having eyes of Lord Jagannath, face similar to Lord Balavadra and body as Devi Subhadra.

The uniqueness of the idol was that contrary to wooden idol, the deity being treated as Lord Balavadra was made of stone and worshipped in a 400-year-old temple.

Elders in the village said nearly 400 years ago, a stone idol in form of Balabhadra bearing marks of seven cobra hoods on its head was found floating in a village pond.

Some youths of the village then installed the idol under a banyan tree, but the next day they noticed the idol floating on the village pond.

But later the idol was placed in a temple and worshipped after zamindar (landlord) Nandikeswar Mangaraj of the village received an order in his dream to do so.

Villagers said while all the rituals of Lord Annanta Baladev were followed by the devotees as per Jagannath cult, all major festivals, including Jhulan Yatra, Chandan Yatra and annual Car festival, are observed with much fanfare.

Of all the festivals, the most unique was the ''Snan Purnima'' in which huge quantity of milk is used for the ceremonial bath of the deity.

The people of Gud claimed that such self-appeared stone idol was unique in the world.

They, however, regretted that the temple had not yet received appropriate recognition due to the "apathy" of of the district administration.

UNI