Art, Faith, and the Eternal Call of Jagannath: Day Three in Odisha

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Overview: Our third day began on a far more pleasant note. The buffet breakfast at OTDC Barakul was noticeably better organised than the previous day, simple, efficient, and unhurried. With renewed energy, we set out early, knowing that the day would involve a longer drive and some of the most culturally rich experiences of our journey.

Raghurajpur: Where Every Home Is a Canvas

Our first destination was Raghurajpur, a heritage crafts village near Puri, celebrated worldwide for its traditional art forms. Declared Odisha’s first Heritage Village in 2000, Raghurajpur is not just a place you visit, it is a living museum of creativity.

Here, every house doubles as an art studio, and generations of artisans continue to preserve ancient crafts with remarkable dedication. The village is best known for:

  • Pattachitra: vibrant cloth scroll paintings depicting mythological stories, especially those related to Lord Jagannath

  • Talapatachitra: intricate engravings on dried palm leaves

  • Mask-making: colourful papier-mâché masks used in folk traditions

  • Stone and wood carving: idols, figurines, and toys crafted with precision

Walking through the narrow lanes felt like leafing through a visual chronicle of Odisha’s artistic heritage. We spent time interacting with the artists, understanding their techniques, and eventually took home a Ramayana Pattachitra painting, along with a few locally made souvenirs, objects that carried stories far deeper than their frames.


Arrival at Puri: Where the Sea Meets the Sacred

By evening, we reached Puri. After checking into our hotel, our first instinct was to head straight to the beach. As expected, it was lively and crowded, but the sight of the sun setting in golden hues over the Bay of Bengal was worth every step. The energy of the sea, the sound of waves, and the evening breeze created a perfect prelude to what lay ahead.

The streets leading towards the Jagannath Temple were lined with bustling local markets, irresistible in their colour and charm. We found ourselves pausing often, sometimes to browse, sometimes to buy, before finally making our way to the temple.

Jagannath Temple: A Timeless Centre of Faith

Our visit to the Jagannath Temple was deeply moving. Despite the heavy crowds, we were fortunate to be guided by a priest known to one of my friends, which made the experience smoother, especially for the senior citizens in our group.

The darshan of Lord Jagannath, along with Balabhadra and Subhadra, was nothing short of divine. There is an indescribable sense of fulfilment that settles in the heart when you stand before the deities. We also had the opportunity to partake in the famed Mahaprasad (Bhog), an experience that felt both sacred and grounding.





A Brief History of the Jagannath Temple

The present structure of the Jagannath Temple was primarily built in the 12th century CE by Anantavarman Chodaganga Deva, the ruler of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. Originally a Shaivite, Anantavarman later embraced Vaishnavism, and under his patronage, the temple rose as a monumental centre of devotion.

The construction was completed or significantly expanded during the reign of his successors, particularly Anangabhima Deva, and further enriched by later Ganga and Gajapati rulers. Over centuries, the temple has endured multiple invasions and reconstructions, yet its spiritual core has remained unbroken.

At the heart of the temple are the wooden deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra, carved from sacred neem wood and placed on the Ratnabedi. The worship of Jagannath is believed to predate the temple itself and likely evolved from ancient tribal traditions, later merging seamlessly with Vaishnavite philosophy.

What makes Lord Jagannath unique is this synthesis of faiths, Shaiva, Vaishnava, Buddhist, and tribal, coexisting within a single tradition. Jagannath is not just a deity here; he is a living presence deeply woven into Odisha’s cultural and spiritual identity.

A Night Steeped in Devotion

We spent nearly three hours within the temple premises, absorbing the chants, rituals, and rhythms of devotion before finally returning to our hotel. As we walked back through the lively streets of Puri, there was a quiet sense of contentment, a feeling that the day had offered both beauty and meaning in equal measure.

Art in the morning, the sea at sunset, and divinity at night, Day Three in Odisha was truly unforgettable.

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