Vanishing Bats, A Concern For Puri Jagannath Temple Devotees

Puri: The Wildlife Division of Puri will soon probe the case of vanishing Lesser Mouse-tailed bats from the north gate (commonly known as the Chemeni Dwara) of Jagannath Temple here.

The strange behaviour of these bats, who have been residing at the north gate of the temple for centuries, has baffled historians, research scholars and the devotees.

“Since our childhood, we have seen thousands of small bats hanging upside down from the roof of the north gate of the temple. But their number has drastically come down since the last few days. Maybe, these nocturnal species have left the place due to noise pollution,” said a devotee.

“Usually, these nocturnal mammals are allergic to noise pollution. We will have to find out their new location. Either they have taken shelter at some dilapidated house, temple or they have gone in search of food. We hope that they will return to their original abode,” Harshavardhan Udgata, a senior official of the Puri Wildlife Division, told the media.

The north gate of the temple was built during the reign of Kapilendra Dev in 1448.

As the north gate is considered as the Moksha (Salvation) Dwara, the daru of the Lords are taken through this gate to Koili Baikuntha (where the old daru of the Lords are buried and the new idols are constructed) during the Nabakalebara.

Legend has it that the Mahants (chief) of the mutts in Puri, after their death, used to reside in the north gate of Jagannath Temple as bats.