Maa Manikeswari (ମା' ମାଣିକେଶ୍ୱରୀ) is one of the most popular Hindu deities in Western Odisha. There are many Manikeswari temples present in the Western and Southern parts of Odisha. But the Manikeswari Temple situated near the Bhawanipatna Palace of Kalahandi District is well recognized in Odisha. 

Manikeswari is also the primary deity associated with the royal family of Paralakhemundi in the Gajapati District. Chhatar Jatra (ଛତର ଯାତ୍ରା) is one of the most popular festivals of Maa Manikeswari in Bhawanipatna.

The deity of Chakrakotamandala comprising present days Kalahandi, Koraput, and Bastar was Manikya Devi or Manikeswari around the 10th century A.D. Later on Kalahandi king Harichandra Deo struggled and died because of which his pregnant queen left for her father’s house in Gadapur, Phulbani.

Some part of Phulbani was part of Mahakantara in ancient time and Chakrakota Mandala. Though the capital of Chakrakotamandala is still being debated, it is clear that it has many similarities to Kamala Mandala, another ancient name of Kalahandi, Manikya Devi came to Gadapur perhaps due to the influence of Chakrakota Mandala.

Later, the queen and her son, Ramchandra Deo returned with Manikya Debi or Manikeswari as per Kalahandi’s public request at that time. Manikeswari was brought from Gadapur (Phulbani) around 1200 A.D. and it was located in Kalahandi.

Maa Manikeswari was also popularized by Suryabansi Gajapati in the 15th-16th century in the Puri region. Purushottama Deva Gajapati considered Manikeswari as the consort of Lord Jagannath and made a shrine of Manikeswari at Chilika, which now doesn’t exist.

Manikeswari is the royal family deity of Parlakhemundi. Manikeswari was installed in Bhawanipatna much later around 1849 AD during the shifting of the capital from Junagarh. Some people also mention Manikeswari in Thumaul Rampur as Adipitha and Devi was brought to Bhawanipatna from there.

Udit Narayan Deo laid the foundation of the present Manikeswari temple in Bhawanipatna and it was completed in 1947 by Brajamohan Deo. Maa Manikeswari was associated with Kalahandi history as a goddess of wealth, Manik, since the 10th century.

There are many Manikeswari worshiping locations in many places of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, especially in undivided districts of Koraput, Phulbani, Boudh, Bolangir, Sonepur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, etc. due to influence by various rulers.

Some famous Manikeswar Temples of Odisha:

• Bhawanipatna
• Paralakhemundi
• Thuamul Rampur
• Jugasaipatna
• Himgir, Sundargarh

Chhatar Jatra of Maa Manikeswari:

Chhatra Jatra is meant to celebrate the Vijaya Utsav with a cheerful heart and splendid display. The festival is being celebrated during the Mahastami of Durga puja festival.

The ritual practice of Khonds (Adivasis of Kalahandi Districts) Nabakalevar (the renewal of post-worship) is also performed during the festival.

Maa Manikeswari comes out from the Garbhagriha on Mahasptami and Mahastami mid-night to Jenakhal which is at about 3 km distance from the alma mater. The Jatra starts with Nagar Paribhramana in the morning of Mahastami.

A bamboo covered with black cloth represents Maa Manikeswari in the Jatra, and at the top on the silver plate, Dasamahavidya Yantra is installed which represents the Tantric Hinduism.

To please Maa Manikeswari, a tribal dance is performed, which is known as the Ghumura dance. Ghumura is a traditional dance and a heritage of the Kalahandi district. It is a dance performed with the traditional instrument Ghumura Veer Badya. The dancers tie the Ghumura (Badya/Instrument) on their shoulders and hang it tight on their chest.

• Content Source: Wikipedia

Anna South Indian Sweets & Tiffin Center is a roadside food stall in Bhubaneswar near CRP Square. You can find Idli, Chup, Vada, Puri, Sweets, and many more, but the best part is, all are prepared without onion and garlic.

As per one Google local guide Ipsita Rout; This is a nice place for breakfast and snacks. Idli, Chup, vada, puri, sweets all are available here at a very reasonable price. They are accepting digital payment methods, which is really helpful during this cashless era.

She further added, yes, due to COVID, no sitting arrangements are there now, only parcel is available. The owner and the workers are very cooperative. It's a roadside stall, so no ambiance but you can take away and easily enjoy their food at home. So basically my experience is very good here."

Overall, it's a good place to have breakfast and snacks with delicious sweets like Rasagola, Gulabjamoon, Chena Jhilli, etc. Around 2 years ago before the COVID Crisis, another Google Local Guide, Kshirabdhi Mallik had reviewed this place and given it a 4 star as well as noted that "they also have Rasagola and Chhena Jhili as the best deserts. It's a pocket-friendly and hygienic place."

N.B.: All these photographs of this blog are taken by Manas Muduli, an Odia Foodie and it's written by Sangram Keshari Senapati by collecting information from different reviewers and local guides.

Further Reading:

• Food On Wheel - Food Trucks on Patia-Infocity Road
• Bhubaneswar Street Food - Breakfast in Sailashree Vihar

Baladevjew Temple (Odia: ବଳଦେବଜୀଉ ମନ୍ଦିର) is a Hindu temple situated in Tulasi Kshetra of Kendrapara district in Odisha. Lord Balaram is the main divinity of this temple.

But Jagannath and Subhadra are also worshipped on the Ratna Sinhasan (Gem Throne) in the main temple. An idol representing Tulasi as a goddess in a seated position is also present after the sacred seven steps.

History of Baladevjew Temple:-

The present temple was constructed at  Ichhapur in around 1761 AD during the Maratha rule in Odisha. It was constructed by Raja Gopal Sandha (the king of Kujanga) and Srinivas Narendra Mahapatra (the Zamindar of Chhedara Killah).

One saint named Gopi Das and Sairatak Giri convinced the then Maratha Chief Janoji and constructed the Jagamohan, Bhoga Mandapa of the main temple, the temple of Gundicha, and compound wall.

It is believed that Khan-I-Duran, the subedar of Odisha during the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb demolished the temple in 1661 and built a mosque on the remains of the temple. Devotees of Lord Baladevjew took the deity in disguise in a boat through the river Gobari and kept the deity in a secret place near Baranga (Chhedara) Jungle. Afterward, it was shifted to Balarampur village near Luna river at Sakhi Bata. Later it was transferred to the present-day Icchapur temple.

The architecture of Baladev Jew Temple:-

There are four main parts of Baladev Jew Temple:

1. Bada Deula or Sri Mandir
2. Majhi Mandir or Bhog Mandap
3. Jagamohan or Natya Mandir
4. Bata Mandir or Mukhashala

The main temple is 75 feet (23 m) high and 40 feet (12 m) wide. The main temple has a 7 step construction and heavy baulamalia stones are used in this construction. There are other small temples inside the premise, where other Gods and Goddesses are worshipped. All the temples have beautiful architecture and are constructed in a traditional way.

The other important parts of the temple are Garuda Stambha, Ratna Bhandar, Snana Mandap, Mukti Mandap, Jhulan Gruha, Laxmi Mandira, Anand Bazar, Bhairabi Mandir, NabaGraha Mandir, Kasi Biswonath, Astasambhu Mahadev, Sri Ram mandir, Sidheswar Mahadev, Mukti Mandap, Ganesh mandir, and Adhistati Devi Tulasi Temple.

Prasad of Baladebjew Temple:-

Different types of Prasad are made with trained traditional families, called Supakara, and Mekap are engaged solely for deities. Some of the delicacies are highly patronized in different historic regimes. A comprehensive list of the delicacies is as follows.

Baula Gaintha, Upana Pitha, Mithei, Chaurashi Vyanjana (84 vegetable Curry), Makara Chaula, Bhaja, Ghia Anna, Dali, Phalamula (fruits and roots), Dry sweets, Ghanavarta, Pura Kakara, Rasabali, Putuli Pitha, Chipa Kakara, Karanji, Khaja, Magaja Ladoo, Dalimba, Khuduma, Nishkudi, Mutha Gaja, Tala, Chhena Chakata are the famous ones.

Khudurukuni Osha (Odia: ଖୁଦୁରୁକୁଣି ଓଷା) is an Indian festival celebrated in Odisha, the Eastern state of India. This festival is also known as Bhalukuni Osha (Odia: ଭାଲୁକୁଣୀ ଓଷା).

Unmarried girls celebrate this festival on every Sunday in the month of Bhadrav (Odia: ଭାଦ୍ରବ) which is in between August and September as per the Gorgerin calendar.

On this festival, the girls worship Maa Mangala (Odia: ମା' ମଙ୍ଗଳା) to protect their brothers. This loosely translates to that "Goddess Khudurukuni can fulfill all your wishes".

The book is a story of a young girl named Tapoi who was ill-treated by her sisters-in-laws (except the youngest one) after her brothers traveled far for business. She started worshiping Maa Mangala and got out of all the troubles when her brothers came back.

Are you are craving for delicious Mutton Curry? Then here it is from Indira Nana Hotel on the Cuttack-Paradeep Road.

Indira Nana Hotel is on Cuttack-Paradeep road. It's a small hut-type setting but the foods are amazing! You could get both veg and non-veg. The taste is awesome.

From the OMP underpass take right towards Paradeep on the Cuttack-Paradeep Road. After around 2 kilometers, you could see Indira Nana Hotel on the left side. There is no sign board or anything about this hotel, but you can ask locals, it’s on the main road.

And try to reach there between 12:45 to 1pm on Wednesday, Fridays or Weekends. After 1 pm, it gets very crowded. People literally come and stand near you to get seated after you are done.

• All these photos are taken by Manas Muduli. You can follow him on Twitter @manas_muduli
• Read about Odiani Family Restaurant.

Maa Barunei and Karunei Temple (Odia: ମା' ବରୁଣେଇ କରୁଣେଇ ପୀଠ) is one of the Shakti Peethas of Odisha. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Maa Barunei a manifestation of Shakti.

The temple is located on Barunei Hill in Khordha district of the Indian state of Odisha. This place is around 30 kilometers away from Bhubaneswar, the state capital of Odisha.

The temple has idols of the twin goddesses Barunei and Karunei in the sanctum sanctorum. A beautiful stream flows from the hill which is known as Swarna Ganga, which enhances the beauty of this place.

History of Barunei Temple:

Rama Chandra Dev, the son of Prime Minister Danai Vidyadhar of the Bhoi dynasty established his capital at Khurda on the foot of Barunei hill. He received this place as a gift from Vala Vikram Singh of Kholapala.

Bagha Patra of Kokkal, Jhadu Parida of Ghoradia, and Sarani Patra of Mallipada these three persons had provided their support to Rama Chandra Dev for the construction of the Khurda Kingdom. Rama Chandra Dev named his new capital Jagannathpur Katak, after the name of Lord Jagannatha, the deity that was first reinstalled hereafter the sacrilege of Kalapathara.

Karunei and Barunei are two deities of the Khurda Bhoi dynasty. Jaya Durga and Kanak Durga worshipped in the residence of the priest are considered to be the substitutes of the presiding deities. During Dusshera these two Durga images were brought to Barunei pitha for worship.

After shifting of Bhoi dynasty capital to Puri Jaya Durga and Kanak Durga were also taken and installed there. Karunei and Barunei continued to remain in their original shrine at the foot of the Barunei hill.

During Dusshera sarees and mahaprasad of Jagannath temple are sent to Karunei and Barunei. It is said that Gajapati Purusottam Deva after defeating the king of Kanchi had brought Ganesh, Sakhigopal, Karunei, and Barunei.

Barunei and Karunei are regarded as khetreswari of Khurda fort and worshipped by the Paika community. It is mentioned that the Muslim invaders undermined the Sakti of Devi by sacrificing cattle and defeated the Paikas. A description of twin goddesses is found in "Bata Avakasa" an Oriya work of a great medieval poet Balaram Das.

N.B.: All these photos are taken by Manas Muduli, except the last one. The history part is taken from one article of Odisha Review written by Pabitra Mohan Barik published in October 2006.

Kuna Tuna Dahibara Stall is one of the famous Dahi vada stalls in Odisha situated opposite the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack.

Dahibara is one of the Odia food which is well known for breakfast and most famous in all parts of Odisha. But Cuttuck Dahibara is considered the best Dahi vada.

All these photographs except the header image are clicked by Manas Muduli, a techie by profession and a food cum traveler of Odisha.