Athamallik: A rationalist may call it superstition but residents of Beladula and Fakirpur villages in Kandhapada panchayat of this block in Angul district consider it a miracle of Raktamauli, the village deity, as they do not build houses with cement concrete (CC) roofs owing to an age-old tradition.
The villagers never build houses having CC roofs as they believe it will draw the ire of Goddess Raktamauli which might bring misery, even death, for them. Their faith in the deity is so ingrained in their minds that they never go for laying CC roofs on their houses.
The villagers’ aversion for cement concrete roofs has severely hit the implementation of government-sponsored housing schemes like Indira Awas Yojana, Biju Pucca Ghar Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as all these projects require laying of CC roofs on houses.
Even, school and Anganwadi buildings constructed by the government do not have CC roofs. This practice has been prevalent in the village since time immemorial.
Beladuala has a population of 813 comprising 421 men and 392 women from 161 families. Similarly, Fakirpur has a population of 271 comprising 139 men and 132 women from 55 families.
The shrine of the village deity Raktamauli is situated under a Phasi tree where the Pakadi nullah flowing through Beladula merges with Mahanadi. The residents of both the villages swear by the name of the deity and worship her with great devotion.
Priest Sambaru Khuntia performs the daily rituals before the deity while the villagers offer milk and coconut to her every Thursday praying for their wellbeing.
They offer special pujas to the deity on Thursdays in the Hindu month of Margashira by offering coconuts and sacrificing hens. People from far off places visit the deity and make their offerings with a hope that their prayers will be answered.
According to villager Jagadananda Meher (63), the practice of not having cement concrete roofs dates back to a period when his grandfather was a child. Then the goddess appeared in the dream of the priest and asked him not to lay cement concrete roof on her shrine as well as on the houses of the villagers.
Meher said due to the blessing of the deity both the villages have remained untouched of the ravages of natural calamities. They were even saved during the 1982 flood despite being just half a kilometre away from Mahanadi. This practice is still prevalent in the village and none has dared to go against the divine will.
Dharanidhar Meher (87) claimed that no villager has laid a cement concrete roof in the village in the last 200 years. Pratap Meher (22), advisor to Maa Bauli Yuvak Sangha, said no villager dares to go against the practice as it invites misery and even death.
Sub-collector Subhash Chandra Ray said he has informed the administration about the villagers’ reluctance to lay CC roofs on the government-sponsored projects and awaiting its order.
PNN
