By SANTOSH MOHANTY
The Shiva temple at Rakala near Talmul village is one of the most visited places of worship in the undivided Dhenkanal district of Odisha, yet it has remained neglected over the years.
Devotees alleged that the connecting road to the temple from the main road has worsened. The road is too narrow and interspersed with potholes causing accidents most often during Mondays and other occasions when devotees from all over the district throng the temple.
The approach road is too narrow to handle even few auto rickshaws during peak hours in festivities, let alone other modes of transport like cars and buses.
The interiors of the temple are poorly maintained. Devotees further alleged that the Covid pandemic has cast its impact on generation of fund for proper maintenance of this famous temple. They, however, maintained that the endowment authorities should take early measures for proper upkeep of this famous place of worship.
Renovation of the sacred pond of Rakala temple has not been done over the years. Shoals of fish of different varieties regale devotees as they throw eatables on water. The pond is a home to big fish weighing several kilograms. Siltation has reduced the depth of the pond to several metres and the day is not far off when it will go dry leaving the rare varieties of fish extinct.
The pujas and other rituals of the temple are done under strict Covid restrictions and nobody knows how long such guidelines will remain in force as the Omicron variant of Covid has already erupted in a number of European countries and Africa.
