Saila Srikhetra

Saila Srikhetra is the name of the Jagannath Temple located at Angul and one of the major Tourist Attractions of Angul. The Adhistratri Devi of Angul, Maa Budhi Thakurani is placed in the middle of the town in one side of the Sunasagada hill since time immemorial. along with Maa Budhi Thakurani, with the passage of time, one Shiva temple and another Madan Mohan temple were constructed near the Goddess Budhi Thakurani Temple. At that time the small Bigraha of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra were kept in Madan Mohan Matha (Temple). Gradually the local people of Angul and nearby villages started Rath Yatra every year on regular basis. In the year 1966, in a Satasanga meeting, one of the member raised a question that the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra should not be adjusted in Madan Mohan Temple which was not correct. The feeling was spread throughout the town of Angul. In the year 1992 on the occasion of Mahabisuba Sankranti, three days Jagyan was celebrated on the top of the Sunasagad hill and on the end of the day a proposal was taken among all the devotees presented in the function to construct the Jagannath temple at that place.

During that time Angul was declared as Revenue District on 1.4.1993 and automatically one Collector post was created for the District. At that time due to public demand, the Collector looked into the matter seriously to honour the feelings of the local people. After a series of meetings and discussions, everybody agreed to help for construction of a grand Jagannath Temple there on the top of the hill. The foundation was given on 21.2.1996 to build the temple like the model of world famous Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri . Then the construction work was progressed day by day with the help of District administration and local people of Angul town and nearby villages. Then the dream came true when the temple work was finished. At last, the District administration formed a trustee for the temple and the temple was opened for all public after completion of Pratistha Utsav on Dt.22.02.2002. It was a historic moment for the people of Angul. Now this place is called as Sailashreekhetra and people not only from Angul but also from whole State & other parts of India are coming to have a darshan of Lord Jagannath in this magnificent grand temple at Angul.

External links

* [http://angul.nic.in/ Angul District official website]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angul_district/ Angul District]
* [http://www.rathyatra.net/ Rath Yatra]
* [http://www.orissa-tourism.com/puri.html Orissa Tourism, Puri District]
* [http://ws.ori.nic.in/jagannath/, Lord Jagannath]
* [http://www.lordjagannath.com/, Shree Jagannath]