Submerged Jajpur deity taken out for puja

KENDRAPADA: Keeping an age-old tradition alive, devotees on Tuesday 'fished out' submerged deity Narayan Goswami from temple pond on the occasion of Odia New Year or Pana Sankranti at Singhpur village in Jajpur district.
"The deity has been kept in the pond since 1569. Every year, devotees bring out the deity for three days and worship It in Narayan Temple," said priest of the temple Sarat Pati.
Devotees searched for two hours to locate the three-foot granite stone idol. Firemen remained on alert to avert any mishap.
"The legend has it that Kalapahad, general of Bengal governor Suleiman Kirrani, invaded Odisha in 1568 and went on a temple demolition spree. Next year, Kalapahada came to Jajpur. The priests of Narayan Temple and king of Madhupurgarh hid the deity, Narayan Goswami, in the pond to preserve Its sanctity," said another priest Basant Pati.
A few days later, the king had a dream in which the lord asked him to take out the idol from water and worship it. Since then, the practice continues, added Pati. After three days, the villagers will hide the deity again in the pond, he said.
The pedestal of the deity in the temple remains empty for the whole year, barring the three days. Devotees in droves from across the state thronged Singhpur to offer prayers.
As the stone image gathered moss, priests cleaned the deity and bathed It with milk and curd.