One of the clay crocodiles that is being worshipped by local residents in Jagatsinghpur. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Nov. 22: Residents of several villages in Jagatsinghpur are worshipping crocodiles to ward off the possibility of trespassing by the killer reptiles.

Clay images of crocodiles, which often stray into water bodies in and around human settlements, are being worshipped with floral offerings.

The unconventional ritual began yesterday and would continue till tomorrow in many villagers under Balikuda and Erasama blocks of Jagatsinghpur. “This ritual of worshipping crocodiles used to take place a few years ago. However, it was discontinued for a while. This year, it was revived again. The crocodile menace in riverside villages might have prompted its revival,” said Sarojini Das, vice chairman of Balikuda panchayat samity.

The villages, where clay images of crocodiles are exalted to deity status, are criss-crossed by waterbodies and inlets, nullahs and rivulets. The crocodile menace has created panic among the villagers. “However, the crocodiles have not yet attacked humans or domestic animals,” said Upendra Biswal, sarpanch of Badahaon gram panchayat.

“We installed the clay idol of a crocodile in the backyard of a house. Amid chanting of mantras, we made floral offerings. All my family members and a few neighbours took active part in the rituals. For us, the crocodile is a deity, at least during the three-day puja,” said Saraswati Rout of Tikira village.

According to belief, the rituals keep crocodiles at bay and a divine safety ring guards villagers. Villages that has been observing the puja include Gada, Gajkhia, Borikina, Tikira, Rahana, Ambasala, Kusupur and a few other hamlets,” said social activist Ratnakar Nayak of Balikuda block headquarters.

“A majority of families here observe this ritual with devotional fervour,” said Pratap Sahu, sarpanch of Gada gram panchayat.

“The villages, where this ritual is taking place, do not fall under the habitation corridors of salt water crocodiles. We are yet to get an official report of crocodile sighting in these areas. Thus, there is no reason for the villagers to panic. During full moon and new moon, when there is a rise in the salinity level in water, crocs might be straying into the waterbodies in these villages. Worship of this nature is purely due to superstition,” said divisional forest officer of Rajnagar mangrove (wildlife) forest division Manoj Kumar Mahapatra.

Paradip, Nov 22: To ward off the possible act of trespass by killer reptiles, residents of several villages across the Jagatsinghpur district have begun worshipping crocodiles.

Clay images of crocs, who often stray into water bodies in and around human settlements, are being worshipped with floral offerings. Belief is that puja would stop the animals’ trespass into villages.

Since yesterday, the unconventional ritual has begun in a number of villagers under Balikuda and Erasama blocks of Jagatsinghpur district. It would come to an end on Tuesday.

“The croc puja that had been going on since long had been discontinued in recent years. But this year it was revived. It might be because of that croc menace is luring its head in riverside villages”, remarked Sarojini Das, vice chairman of Balikuda panchayat Samity.

The villages where clay images of crocs are exalted to deity status are cris-crossed by water bodies and inlets, nullahs and rivulets. Sighting of estuarine crocs in the water bodies have made the people panicky here. However crocs are yet to launch assault either on humans or domesticated animals as it is being witnessed in villages of neighbouring Kendrapara district, felt Upendra Biswal, Sarpanch, Badahaon gram panchayat.

“We installed a clay idol of a crocodile on the backyard of the house. Amid chanting of mantras, we made floral offerings. All of my family members besides some of the neighbouring houses took active part in the rituals. For us, croc is a deity at least for the three-day puja observance”, narrated Saraswati Rout, a homemaker from Tikira village.

It is belief that ritual would keep the crocs at bay. Villagers would be guarded by a divine safety ring. Crocs would not unleash terror as it is doing elsewhere. Clay images of crocodiles were worshipped like a revered deity in villages like Gada, Gajkhia, Borikina, Tikira, Rahana, Ambasala, Kusupur besides several other hamlets”, remarked Ratnakar Nayak, a social activist from Balikuda block headquarters town.

“In majority of houses in my native village, croc worshipping was done with devotional fervour”, said Pratap Sahu, Sarpanch, Gada Panchayat.

“The villages where the croc worship rituals were conducted do not actually fall under the habitation corridors of salt water crocodiles. We are yet to get official report of crocs’ sighting in these areas. Thus there is no reason for the villagers to get panicked. On occasions like full moon and new moon when there is rise in salinity level in water, crocs might be straying into the water bodies in these villages. Worship of this nature is purely superstition-bound”, observed Manoj Kumar Mahapatra Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (Wildlife) forest division.