Thousands of devotees visit Panchama on Ganesh chaturthi

BERHAMPUR: Panchama, a sleepy village on the outskirts of Berhampur city was agog with influx of thousands of devotees from far off places like Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Mostly children and womenfolk made a beeline in front of the historic Ganesh temple, located on the outskirt of the village from the wee hours, as people from far flung places thronged the ancient shrine to appease Siddha Vinayak the elephant God, appearing on an old tree. The tree believed to be 500-year-old withstood the passage of times. The tree happens to be a big attraction for the devotees, where they perform the rituals.

Police made elaborate arrangements to maintain traffic and the law and order. Local volunteers also came forward to help the visiting devotees by providing drinking water and to maintain traffic."Unlike the last several years, this year we have performed puja smoothly" said one of the devotees.

According to legend, the temple was built by King Purushottam Dev of Gajapathi dynasty of Utkala during his Kanchi Abhijan to marry Princess Padmabati, daughter of King of Kanchi. The King during his journey, used to take rest in the Goddess Bhairabi temple, located near Panchama. Once while the king was sleeping, he heard a celestial voice instructing him to appease Lord Ganesh before leaving the place. If the elephant God was pleased, the princess would surely be his.

Source: PTI