Summary:
The marching sea forced us to move the temple to Bagapatia,” said Sujata Dalei , one of the priestesses. Since time immemorial, married Dalit fisherwomen have been worshipping the deities at the temple. “This is a very emotional moment for us. The goddesses’ journey to a safer abode also saw an ancient custom being suspended for a day.Male workers and temple sculptors entered the altar of the temple — so long the exclusive preserve ofpriestesses — for the first time in 400 years, to heave the 1.5-tonne black granite idols out. KENDRAPADA: Following a night of prayers and preparation, the deities of a 400-yearold temple, located on what is considered to be the fastest-eroding sea beach on Odisha’s long coast, moved house to a village 12 km inland on Friday.Local residents and the Kendrapada administration moved the five deities of the Ma Panchubarahi Temple in Satabhaya village of the district to a rehabilitation colony at Bagapatia on two big boats..