Eco-Tourism in Angul

The temple of Budhi Thakurani is situated in one side Sunasagad hill which is in the middle place of the Angul town. The Bigraha of the Goddess is made in Black Granite stone and looks like a pillar. It is the symbol of Budha Budhi worship system of tribal culture. This type of customs also seen in the village of Ogi, Para and Bagedia villages where Budha Thakur is worshipped and Purnakot, Jerang villages where Budhi Thakurani is worshipped in this district. It is also seen in the other parts of Orissa i.e. in Kaligali of Cuttack City where pillar type Goddess is worshipped as Goddess Kali and known as Budhi Thakurani. As per history it is not clear regarding the period of worship of Budhi Thakurani at Angul. As per hear say, once upon a time this Angul was ruled by one Kandha named Sunas and he used this hill as Gada and accordingly the hill is called as Sunasagada. The Kandha ruler placed this Budhi Thakurani and worshipped as his Esta Devi and in due course this place was full of deeply forest. In the year 1848 the Angul district was came to under control of British Empire and in the year 1896 they shifted their headquarter from Purnagada to Nuagada and planned the Angul town. They constructed road for convenience of the people. So it was required to clean the forest and at that time the hill came to their notice and they found that one pillar type of Goddess was there inside the deep forest. Then the era was cleaned and from that day the Goddess was worshipped as the Adhistatri Devi of this area and called as Budhi Thakurani. In the year 1956 one saint came to Angul and visited the Sakti Pitha and became fascinated to see the Bigraha of Goddess. Curiosity was aroused in his mind to know what is inside of the Bigraha. Then he tried to dig the back side of the Bigraha to find some thing. But he could not get any thing and returned away. In due course the holes had been filled and a Lions statue was placed there. Now this Budhi Thakurani is renowned in the town as well as in the district. Daily thousands of people visited the place and Budhi Thakurani is placed in every persons heart of this district as Easta Devi/ Grama Devi.

The holy place (peetha) of the Goddess Hingula is situated on the bank of the river Simhada in the West of erstwhile. Talcher Estate (Now in the District of Angul). In Assam, there is a place of pilgrimage named Jwalamukhi where a similar goddess Hingula or Hingulei or Hingulaksi is being worshipped. It is for this reason that the presiding deity of Talcher in village Gopal Prasad who bears the form of fire is named Goddess Hingula. Such holy places (peethas) of Hingula are also situated even outside India in Karachi and Kabul. Both Hindus and Muslims worship at this holy place like that of Kaipadar in Khurda.It is around 30 Kms away from Angul.

This village is situated at a distance of 28 Kms, on Angul- Bagedia road. The village is known for its shrine dedicated to Goddess Ramchandi. She is believed to be possessed of great powers. It is believed that by worshipping Goddess Ramchandi sterile women will obtain children. On the foundation of the old temple one magnificent temple was constructed. A Yatra is held here on the second day of Krushna Pakshya Bhadra. This Yatra is known as Ramchandi Yatra or Kaduali Yatra (July- August). This Yatra is celebrated with big ceremony every year. Thousands of people attend this Yatra. Kosala is 28 Kms away from Angul. One can reach Angul by bus or train. There is regular bus service available to Kosala from Angul.

Lovi Thakurani yatra, the annual ceremonial function of Goddess Lovi, is observed every year on Kartik Purnima day. Garh Santry, seventeen kilometers away from the district headquarters town Angul, is the village abode of the presiding deity Lovi.The deity stands out from other idols of Hindu faith and belief because of Her peculiar name that is Lovi, which denotes greediness. However, the people of Garhsantry have to say that the meaning of the name is something deferent from what we generally mean in a negative way, rather it has a positive meaning that is greediness to devotion, offerings and all the more the sacrifice of egoism. The annual festival is organized by the twin villages of Garhsantry and Tulsipal, where thousands of people all over the state congregate to offer their puja on the full moon day of Kartika when the sacred symbol of the deity is brought from aalam ghar the daily offering house situated at Tulsipal village with a ceremonial procession to the temple at Pidha sahi of Garhsantry. The grandeur of the procession includes mass and huge drum bits, holding up of chati taraas in addition to folk dance of Paikas. The dehury, the priest, holding the symbol of the deity on his shoulder, walks through out the procession of five kilometers along with a huge follower of devotees. When he reaches to the temple which is already surrounded by a large number of temporary stalls, put the sacred symbol on a ceremonial dais and starts puja for two days consecutively. A large number of devotees start flocking in with offerings to have a darshan. Some of the devotees of the local area have their child mundan for this occasion in a belief to get blessings of the Goddess so that they would lead a long and healthy life. The fare at the temple continues for four consecutive days and on the last day the symbolic representation of the deity returns to its original domicile.One can reach Angul either by bus or train. Lovi Thakurani Tourist place is 17 Km away from Angul.