Pathara Gadia pond revived for Nabakalebara after 18 yrs

Pathara Gadia, a pond in Puri, has got a fresh lease of life thanks to Nabakalebara. The Odisha tourism department spent Rs 25 lakh on renovating it.

The pond was last used during 1996 Nabakalebara.

After returning from Banajaga Yatra, priests halt for a day at Alam Chandi temple close to the pond. The Banajaga yatris take a holy dip in the pond and offer prayers to Alam Chandi before taking the sacred wood to the temple.

Locals encroached on the area around the pond and dumped garbage in it. There was no water in the Pathara Gadia pond.

Not many are aware of the historical significance of the pond. Locals demanded proper conservation of the sacred water body.