The idol of lord Jagannath here will be replaced with a new one after about 120 years. The lord here is called Attali Jagannath.As a saying goes the lord was initially worshipped beneath a monastery called Attali and in the later phase, He was shifted to the present temple of 90-foot high made by King Jagannath Dev in 1798.
Recently, when the servitors found that the idol made up of neem log was approaching wear and tear, they brought it to the notice of the Endowment Department.Sub-Collector Harish Chandra Nayak conveyed a meeting where it was decided to change the idol this year before the Car Festival. Accordingly, different categories of servitors of the lord Jagannath at Puri were called upon, who promised to build the idol.
As per the schedule, Maharana sevayats and Panda sevayats will accompany the idol coming from Puri to Athagarh on Thursday. When the servitors with the idol will reach at Kantol Dahkinachandi temple at 3 pm, over a dozen of Sankirtan Mandali and Gahandal devotees will greet the idol and will take it to the temple with a huge procession through different village streets. The local administration has made an announcement of the time and arrangements made to greet the idol by paying oblation at every home. A Yagna Mandap has been constructed in the temple premises where a Mahayagna will be performed for three days. The new idol will be installed on June 21, while the old idol will be buried in the backyard of the temple.