Odisha
abounds in spot of scenic beauty and thenatural ake Chilika adds to its
aesthetic looks.Chilika, a wonder creation of Nature, is a vastand picturesque
lagoon/lake in the heart of coastalOdisha. It displays lavish scenic eauty.
Chilikais not just a lake but an ever flowing living entity.In the
works of the great Odia Poet, RadhanathRay, it is a place of entertainment for ‘Utkal
Laxmi’and so goes the line…..
“Utkal
Kamala Vilas Dirghika
Marala
Malini Nilambu Chilika
Utkal
Tuhi Charu Alankar
Utkala
Bhubane Sobhara Bhandar”
Queen
of natural beauty, Chilika, thelargest brackish water lake in Asia covering anarea
over 1100 sq.km is a great attraction for thetourists. Chilika lake is regarded
as a magnificent gift of ature.
“
Sundar Truptira Abasada NanhiJete
Dekhuthile Nua Disuthai”
The
lake is a mute witness to the rise andfall of so many castles, temples and
forts.
“
Atitara Tuhi Sakhi Puratana
Dekhilu
Narara Utthana Patana
Kete
Rajadhani To Tire Utthita
Hoitanhi
Puni Hele Astamita”
x
x x
“Itihas-ranga
Stali Tu Chilika
Toratire
Para Srimati Manika
Haste
Bhunjithile Sadare Labani
Bhabagrahi
Prabhu Bhakti Chintamani”
The
blue water of Chilika lake thatspreads around speaks of the glorious heritageof
ancient Utkal. The hillock covered with greenbushes
in it, speaks of many legends and folktales.The confluence of grandeurs and
geese along withother beautiful birds pronounces the co-existenceof Nature’s
creations where from “Beauty” and“Truth” comes up, that’s why, the poet andPhilosophers
get attracted to the Chilika. Themagnificent sight of the lake enables a man
withaesthetic sensibility to be transported to a different world where ‘Art’
and ‘Beauty’ reign supreme.Kalijai Temple or Kalijai Pahada is situated on an
island considered to be the abode of the Goddess Kalijai. She is venerated due
to the folklore and the egend. It is an
excellent destination.
“
Kalijai Bada Pratyaksha Debata
Koti
Koti Dandabata
Pahadara
Na Raijey Kshyata Lo
Kalijai
Parabata”
The
temple of Kalijai is located in theisland of Chilka lake of Puri istrict. Formerly it came under the
ex-Zamidari of Parikuda. The popular Kalijai legend talks of the beautiful
rustic bride, Kalijai who met watery-grave on the way to her in-laws house when
the boat carrying her capsized on account of a storm. Since then, alijai has turned into an angelic spirit who
safeguards the people on the sea.
Jai, a
small girl was living with her parents in a village on the bank of the river
Salia. She was very much liked by her parents for her beauty and religious bent
of mind. She used to worshipat the
feet of Goddess Bhagabati on all ceremonial days. When she came of a age her
parents gave her in marriage to a handsome young man of Parikuda Garh. After
the marriage is over her father accompanied her to Parikuda along with a cart
load of dowry articles. To reach Parikuda, the only available means of ommunication then was a long boat journey from
Balugaon. So Jaiwith
her father boarded the boat clear over the wide expanse of the Chilika water.
He successfully avoided the invisible rocks within the deep Chilika water while
plying the boat through the favourable cool wind. Jai was all along feeling uncomfortable
as she had left her matter and childhood friends. Seeing her plight on the occasion
of first boat ride, the father of Jai repeatedly advised the boatman to move
boat cautiously across deep waters and rocky beds.“Bhalakari
Naha Buha Re Nauri Jhiaku Maduchi Dara; Gadhe Gada loke Chanhi Basithibe Jhia
Jiba Sasughara”The
boatman as usual plying the boat carefully singing songs of the Chilika lake
and praising the glory of the river Goddess.
“
Deulakirati Kalijai Giri
Marakata-
Setu Praye yara Shiri”
They
were a distance away from the destination. Suddenly a dark cloud appeared inthe
sky. The soaring thunder lightening and iolent
breeze caused panic among the boat riders. Before long large drops of rain
started falling and soon it became a heavy downpour. The boatman could not
controll the boat as it was tossing over the violent waves of the deep Chilika
water. It ontinued for a long time and the boat losing all its balance dashed
against a huge rock. Several riders including Jai drowned in the ater. The walling cry of the riders did not
overpower the laud thunder. No sooner the boat dashed and sank in the lake
water the cloud disappeared on the vast sheet of sparking water. But to every
body’s supreme Jai could no more be found. Hear Jai's father repeatedly asked
the boatman regarding her whereabouts.
“Bapa
Pacharanti Khoji Naurire
“Jhia
Mora Gala Kanhi ?”
Buji
akhithia Nauri Nije Lo
Tunda
ta phitai Nanhi”-Kalijai
The
boatman apprehended her drowning when the boat caught in the whirlpool. They
all searched the lake for a great distance but could not find any trace of Jai.
Her father crushed his fate in giving marriage the daughter at a far off place
and returned home with a heavy heart. Since then the rocky hill against within
the boat dashed came to be known as the Kalijai hill. The boatman and people
travelling in the lake have seen on many occasions the spirit of a young lady
with disheveled hair and tearful eyes roaming in the thick forests of the rocky
island. Local people identify her with Jai. Local people subsequently built a
small temple and installed a stone idol calling her Kalijai.
“
Tolile Pahada-Sikhe Kale Ukte
Sudar
Deulatie;
Se
Deula Puni Samudre Sate Lo,
Rahiba
Debata Kie ?”
In the
historical point of view, the real name of Kalijai is Kala Jai means victory
over the era. Kalijai or Kalajayi was presiding deity of royal Palace of
Parikuda Garh (Krushna Prasada Garh).Goddess was installed there and a temple was
built to protecte enemy those were coming on sea route. The main pidha temple
and its frontflat-roofed
pillared mandapa are built in recent years on the rocky bed of this island, on
a common platform and thoroughly lastered.
The outer walls of this temple are devoid of sculptural decoration.The
presiding deity under the name of Kalijai is greatly revered by the boatmen and
the people who travel through the deep water of the Chilika lake. They believe
that Kalijai is a very kind and helpful Goddess and those who pray at her feet never
face any danger in the Chilika lake. The presiding deity is installed on a masonry
pedestal erected very close to the inner back wall of theGarbhagriha.
To her side another image under the name of Malajai has been given preserved
for worship. As both the figures have been given deep coasts of vermillion it
becomes different to arriveat
their iconographic features. A small image of Kanaka Durga kept in one corner
of the Garbhagriha. Since the Kalijai temple of Chilika lake remains
inaccessible during rainy season, therulers
of Parikuda built another shrine for the deity at Parikuda for annual
observance of Dasahara festival.Kalijai
Island is home to the Goddess Kalijai. Out of various fairs and festivals of
this spot, it hosts a huge fairs on Makar Sankranti annually called Makara Mela
in the month of January. This fair attracts a large number of visitors both
from outside and inside the country. Maa Kalijai is venerated by the local
people. There are 132 fishermen villages having 31,000 fishermen. They are
quite active in fishing atChilika,
visit Kalijai temple on this day to offer their ritual items. The lake Chilika
is very much important from
the socio-economic point of view. It is life-line of thousands of fishermen
families who completely depend on Chilika for their livelihood. On the day of
Makar Sankranti, the special nitis observed in this temple. Goddess wears
new clothes and Shri Santosh Singh Mardaraj, the king of Parikuda Garh comes
from his fort namely Krushna Prasada Garh in royal procession by boats to this
temple to offer special Bhoga, new cloths along with ritual requirements to
Goddess on behalf of royal palace and coronation (
Abhishek)observed here.
Maximum devotees came to this
spot to offer their sacrificial animals, through victim system is strictly
prohibited here from early time. The festival helps bring all fisher folks
together, whothough display their own little
quirks in the festivities, celebrate as one. It was celebrated by all with much
fervor. Each caste added to the gaiety with their own unique customs, attire
and celebratory dances. People donned new attire and greeted each other on the
occasion. It is one of the biggest annual festivals of fisher folk. The festival
is enjoyed with boisterous music, dance and drums. In this time Chilika lagoon
became full of motorized boats and general boats. The lake became a perennial
source of solace and joy to all emotional-beings. The grandeur and greatness of
the lake have a lusting impact on the viewers. Indeed ‘Makar Mela’ of Kalijai
hill is a ‘thing of beauty’ and hence a ‘joy for ever’. Its sanctity makes it a
place of pilgrimage which attracts tourists from around the globe. It is a witness
to so many events and incidents of mythological
and legendary importance.......
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