Sambalpur, May 13: Baiskha Mela, a festival to celebrate the birth anniversary of Lod Nrusingha, began today at the Nrusinghnath temple in Paikmal Block of Bargarh district. Located in Paikmal, situated 180km from here, the temple has been constructed at the foot of Gandhamardan hill.

The festival is celebrated with much fanfare at Nrusinghnath temple. Thousands of devotees from across the state and from neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh throng the place to take a holy dip in the Gokunda ghat. It is said that if some one takes a dip in the ghat during Baisakha Purnima, he finds salvation from his sins. The people of Chhattisgarh treat the water as holy.

“This festival is celebrated from Triyodasi to Purnima in the month of Baisakha at Nrusinghnath of Paikmal. It is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Nrusingha and is also known as Narsingh Chaturdashi,” said Pradeep Purohit, a local resident of Paikmal and former president of the Nrusinghnath temple trust.

“As per mythology, Jamuna Kandhuni, a revered lady of Kandh community, had discovered the effigy of God in the form of a cat. Later, the king of Patna, now Bolangir, Baijal Dev, constructed the temple in Nrusinghnath Pitha, which is 10,000 feet above sea level,” Purohit added.

“This is a 13th century temple. Hiuen Tsang, the Buddhist pilgrim from China, had visited this place during his stay in India. Nrusinghnath was an important place for followers of Buddhism. Hiuen Tsang, in his writings, mentioned that there was a Baudha Vihar in this place,” said Purohit.

“Historian G.R. Bhandarkar, in his writings, had mentioned that the temple was a contemporary of the Sun Temple of Konark,” said Dhiren Mohanty, convener, Gandhamardan Suraksya Yuba Parishad.

“The festival, which began today, will conclude on May 17. Apart from religious rituals, many cultural programs will also be organised during this festival.

“More than one lakh people are expected to visit this place during this festival. We have made proper arrangements in terms of drinking water facility and first aid. We have also asked the police department to deploy sufficient number of policemen to control any kind of law and order situation,” said Laxman Amat, B.D.O, Paikmal Block.