Uttarkashi (Uttarakhand): Though the Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri is renowned all over the world, there exists a lesser known temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district.
Around 10-12 villages in the district's Varuna valley worship Lord Jagannath as their deity. Though the main temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath is situated in the village of Saald, other villages in the valley too house their own temples.
The ancient temple in Saald houses a unique idol of Lord Jagannath, in the form of a black stone with seven streaks on it.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Balveer Singh Rana, a resident of Saald village, who is a teacher currently researching on the Jagannath temple, explained the belief attached to the temple.
Rana said that according to legend, a Brahmin man from the Nautiyal community, who was a resident of Saald, had travelled to Puri. Since he had no children, the man wanted Lord Jagannath to bless him with a child. The lord then appeared before the man and told him that he himself would be born as a child in his house, but the condition was that he would stay with him for only 11 years.
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A year later, the man was blessed with a child. But true to Lord Jagannath's condition, after the child turned 11 years old, he vanished while playing in the ground.
Many years later, when a farmer was ploughing the field in the middle of the village, a voice from the ground told him to stop doing so. However, the farmer paid no heed as he ploughed the field seven times and also set fire there.
Subsequently, the farmer was attacked by bees, including bulls, and a few days later, Lord Jagannath appeared there in the form of a black stone with seven streaks. The idol was later installed in the temple.
Rana further said that according to the documents he was studying, it has been clearly written that Lord Jagannath has to be worshiped at the temple on Wednesdays and Sundays. Further, just like it is done in Puri, villagers offer rice to Lord Jagannath at the temple here.
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