Khandapara: The Chandan festival of Neelamadhavjew used to be celebrated with much gaiety and pomp here in the Chandan pond. However, last year the residents of this locality, were forced to cancel it because of the dilapidated conditions of the pond. It hurt the sentiments of many. The unattended pond became home to weeds, lotus and many other plants.
The Chandan festival of Neelamadhavjew is celebrated for 21 days starting, Akshaya Tritiya. On this occasion, deities of Neelamadhavjew, known as Madan Mohan, Laxmi, Saraswati, Shiva and Parvati are taken out on decorated palanquins to the Chandan pond and then transferred to a boat for a cruise. However, last year, the residents found that it was impossible to paddle the boat within the pond and hence the festivities were cancelled.
The pitiable condition has not improved this year as the local district administration has failed to clean it up. Undeterred by the apathy six friends have decided to take the matter in their own hands and revive the pond by cleaning it up.
An amount of Rs 9,00,000 has been released under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme, last year. However, due to lack of efforts from district officials it remained unutilised.
As the residents of the area and devotees were resigning their fates to another year without celebrations, the six friends – namely Pabitra Mohan Mahapatra (retired chartered accountant), Sachhidananda Dash (former Kantilo sarpanch), Biranchi Narayan Sahoo (retired agriculture officer), Binod Kumar Das (retired assistant manager, Civil Supplies Corporation), Dhaneswar Maharana (retired principal) and Khaleswar Maharana (retired supervisor, Door Sanchar Nigam) decided to act. Incidentally they all belong to the 1969 batch of students at Neelamadhav Vidyapeeth.
They said they will not only de-weed the pond, but also carry out beautification of it and the surrounding areas. They are also planning to introduce boating facility in the pond. The friends came out with their plans at a Citizen Forum meeting conducted on the premises of Neelamadhavjew Temple on Republic Day.
Lingaraj Das had got the pond dug up and it was named after him. Later, the pond was rechristened Chandan pond of Neelamadhavjew.
PNN
