October 6th 2024.
In the town of Kendrapara, there is a growing demand for the Maa Panchubarahi Temple to be recognized as a tourist spot. This temple, which has stood for over 500 years, is located in the Rehabilitation Colony of Bagapatia under the Rajnagar block in Kendrapara district. The locals strongly believe that the Mother Goddess residing in this temple is a living deity and serves as a protector during natural disasters. This belief has only fueled the desire for the temple to be recognized as a tourist spot.
It is rare to find women in positions of authority in temples, but at the Maa Panchubarahi Temple, women from the Dalit community are appointed as trustees and priestesses. This tradition has been in place for 500 years and is not found anywhere else. The temple is made of black stone and the five deities are served by women priestesses without any formal government support. Devotees offer locally cultivated grains, fruits, and sometimes financial contributions as offerings to the deities.
One of the locals, Rashmita Sahoo, shared that the Mother Goddess is believed to be a living deity who fulfills the wishes of devotees during both happy and difficult times. In the past, a male priest was given the responsibility of performing rituals, but after he became infatuated with one of the sculptures, the duties were returned to women. Currently, the four Dalit women priestesses, Sujata Dalei, Banalata Dalei, Rani Dalei, and Sabitri Dalei, are entrusted with the priestly responsibilities. It is a tradition that only married women can serve as priestesses, according to Rashmita.
Another local, Nigamananda Rout, shared that the Dalit women priestesses are highly respected in the village and are even bowed to by the villagers. However, men are not allowed to enter the temple or touch the Panchubarahi deity. Priestess Sabita Dalei, whose mother-in-law was also a priestess at the temple, mentioned that no male devotee is allowed to participate in the Tuesday rituals and must view the deity from a narrow passage on the temple walls. She also expressed her contentment with the fact that no one has ever disrespected her as a Dalit woman priestess.
Dr. Sarbeswar Sen, a researcher, stated that this temple is unique in the state as it is one of the few temples where Dalit women serve as priestesses. He also mentioned that there are other temples in the country that have female priestesses, such as the Sri Vaishnava Temple in Tamil Nadu and the Attukal Temple and Chakkulathukavu Temple in Kerala. These temples also do not allow men to enter.
A local resident, Sudarshan Rout, shared that the Maa Panchubarahi Temple was originally located near Barahipur in the Satabhaya Panchayat, but had to be relocated due to coastal erosion. In 2020, the Mother Goddess was temporarily moved to Bagapatia, about 12 km from the original site, where men were allowed to touch and transport the deity during the relocation. With the establishment of a new temple at Bagapatia, the state government has provided land and homes to 571 families. Efforts are being made to recognize this temple as a religious tourism destination, with the support of local political leaders and the administration working on development plans.
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