Digapahandi: A small idol of Goddess Kali, reportedly made of gold, was found buried in the backyard of a house at Bajapalli village under Basudevpur gram panchayat in Ganjam district early Thursday, following what the family said was a divine dream. The idol, measuring about 4 inches in length, was reportedly found at the residence of B Judhisthir Reddy after his daughter, B Kamini Reddy, told the family that Goddess Kali had appeared to her in a dream and indicated that an idol was buried at the spot. According to the family, Kamini had lost her gold mangalsutra in a wastewater pit near the house while bathing Wednesday.
Judhisthir later searched the area and recovered the mangalsutra by digging near the pit. The family said that after going to bed that night, Kamini had a dream at about 1am in which Goddess Kali told her that she had recovered her gold necklace and that the deity’s idol was buried beneath the same area. The family further claimed that Kamini subsequently appeared to be in an unusual state and described the dream to her relatives and neighbours. After dawn, Judhisthir and other family members went to the backyard and dug at the spot indicated by Kamini. They said they found the idol buried in the soil. The family then performed religious rituals, bathing the idol in water mixed with sandalwood, aguru, vermilion and turmeric before offering flowers, incense and other traditional offerings. News of the discovery spread rapidly, drawing a large number of residents from Bajapalli and neighbouring villages to the house, where people were seen offering prayers.
