Bhubaneswar: Wielding traditional weapons and drawing on a martial legacy passed down through generations, the Paikas of Kandabindha village in Dhenkanal district brought their ancestral combat tradition into focus during the 42nd edition of Dhenkanal Heritage Walks (DHW), held during Durga Puja.
Members of the Mallaluha Kabata Paika Yuvaka Sangha showcased the village’s martial heritage, highlighting the enduring connection between Paika traditions and Dhenkanal’s history.
DHW representatives Ramesh Chandra Pati and Biswaranjan Dehury felicitated the association’s president, Ashok Kumar Sahu, during the event.
A discussion traced the origins of the Paika settlement to Raja Harisingh Vidyadhar, founder of the present-day Dhenkanal Garh.
According to accounts shared by participants, the king settled warrior Mallaluha Kabata, who had accompanied him, in the area along the erstwhile Dhenkanal-Hindol border, granting him 16 acres of land as a jagir.
The settlement subsequently grew into the present-day Kandabindha village. Participants recalled the valour of Kandabindha’s Pai kas during the 18-day conflict between Dhenkanal and the Marathas, citing their combat skills and tactical prowess.
Rabi Narayan Sahu and Sanjay Sahu shared accounts of the community’s contribution to the region’s martial history.
The tradition continues during Sharadiya Dashahara, when the village Paikas perform Khandapuja, a ritual worship of swords, and demonstrate their martial skills at the Devi temple within the Dhenkanal royal palace complex.
The heritage walk also explored historic sites in Paika Sahi, including the 400-year old shrine of Goddess Manga la, the community’s presiding deity, the Raghunatha temple, a traditional Chaupadhi and a 200-year-old Sri Chaitanya temple.