Toshali Sands :: Kakatpur

Kakatpur is 60 kms away from Bhubaneswar in the district of Puri. The epic-famed river Prachi flows nearby. The temple of Maa Mangala has made Kakatpur widely known. Every year in the month of Chaitra a grand fair is held here on the occasion of fhamu fatra. The sevayats of Jagannath temple receive the command garland from this temple and under the mandate of the Goddess, go in search of Daru or logs of wood for Nabakalevar of Lord Jagannath.

Kakatpur is a small town in Puri district widely known for the temple of Goddess Mangala. Kakatpur is 60 kms from Bhubaneshwar. A holy river named Prachi flows nearby. Every year in the month of April a grand festival held known as 'Jhamu Yatra'. On this occasion devotees collect sacred water in the earthen pot, carry it on their soldier and then walk on the surface of burning fire spread on a long channel with bare feet. It is believed that devotees remain uninjured and unhurt while performing that risky custom due to the blessing of Goddess Mangala.

Every year thousands of devotees come to Kakatpur to celebrate the Jhamu festival.

The Kakatpur Mangala temple is also famous for creating new idols for Lord Jagannath, Lord Bababhadra and Goddess Subhadra. According to the tradition old deities are buried under earth at the Jagannath temple. And new idols are created from sacred woods. To find these sacred woods the priest sleep in front of the goddess with their facedown. This custom has been performed from years together without any variation.