Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walk Showcases District’s Rich Multi-Faith Legacy

Jagatsinghpur: Around 25 heritage enthusiasts from across Odisha participated in the 14th edition of the Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks (JHW), exploring historically significant sites that reflect the district’s rich blend of Jain, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions.

The heritage trail, organised on the outskirts of Jagatsinghpur town, aimed to promote awareness about the region’s archaeological wealth and the need to preserve its ancient monuments, sculptures, and cultural traditions.

The walk began at Oushuni Pitha, where participants observed a rare twelve-armed Chamunda idol स्थापित beneath an ancient banyan tree. The sculpture is considered a significant representation of the Shakti cult in Odisha and drew keen interest from both scholars and visitors.

The second stop was the Bhagabati Temple. Participants expressed concern over the theft of a centuries-old Durga idol from the temple in 2015, a loss that continues to affect the local community. Discussions were also held with villagers on the need to conserve several neglected sculptures from the Somavamshi period, including idols of Kartikeya and Goddess Parvati lying exposed within the temple premises.

The walk concluded at the Khandeshwar Mahadev Temple, a site noted for its rare confluence of Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. The temple houses a unique collection of antiquities, including Buddhist depictions of Chakrasamvara (Bhairava) and Vajrasattva, a Jain idol of Shantinath—the 16th Tirthankara—and several ancient Hindu deities.

Local resident Barada Prasanna Das shared insights into the region’s historical Jain presence, noting that the area once had a thriving Jain community, traces of which now survive through these relics.

The event was coordinated by Srikanta Singh, convenor of JHW, with senior members Biswaranajan Dehuri, Bhagaban Das, and Sasanka Sekhar Panda in attendance. Young participants were also felicitated during the programme.