Lakhs of devotees thronged to the Ganesh
temple at Panchama near Berhampur city on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi. Elaborate
arrangements were made to celebrate the occasion at the ancient shrine where
the Lord is believed to have emerged from a cavity of a peepal tree. Situated
about 10 km from the city, near Andhra-Odisha border, the temple has 15th
century architecture. The temple itself is said to have been built by King
Purushottam Dev (1467-1497) during his journey to marry Princess Padmabati,
daughter of then king of Kanchi. Legends say that he heard a celestial voice in
his sleep asking him to appease Lord Ganesh before leaving the place to be
successful. Following this, Purushottam Dev and his troops looked for an idol
of Lord Ganesh and after a long search found one in the tree. He offered his
prayers and after returning from Kanchi with his bride built a small temple
there for daily prayers.
Though thousands of devotees from various
parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West
Bengal throng the shrine during Ganesh Chaturthi, no measures have
been taken for its development. Sources
said neither the Tourism Department nor the State Archaeology have shown any
interest to tap the potential of this shrine and develop it into a centre of
tourist getaway.
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