When Kali Puja Overcame Religious Divide In Odisha

Kendrapada: Olaver, a village in Kendrapada district in Odisha, is like most villages in many ways but is also unique for something that the people of the area have been observing for 73 years.

Every year, since 1946, the committee of Dhakhineswari Kali Temple in Olaver, comprising Muslims and Hindus of the locality, has been organising a 14-day-long celebration (like Bengal, Goddess Kali is worshipped in many parts of Odisha during Diwali).

While 21st Century India has been dealing with violent cases because of intolerance among different religious communities, often provided with fuel by political parties, Olaver comes across as a heart-warming example of amity and brotherhood. 

According to the president of the committee, when entire India was reeling under communal violence in 1946, Sheikh Karamat Ali of Olaver began this Puja as a mark of goodwill and cordiality between Hindus and Muslims of the region.

The committee organises Puja of the Goddess and cultural programme for the public for 14 days every year. “This year we have made a new resolution – to check the use of plastic and also maintain cleanliness and hygiene during the Puja,” said the president of the committee.

“We are going to have Pala performance and open-air Jatra this year,” he added.

“Here, the Puja is done by everyone and everyone is welcome to the celebrations. We always try to see that no visitor or shopkeepers face any problem during these 14 days festivities,” said a man belonging to the Muslim community of Olaver.

Olaver, with its unique practice, is certainly an example for the whole of India, and clearly needs to be imitated by people in the rest of Odisha and India as well.