One of the major religious places, a symbol of unity among Hindus and Muslims, the shrine of Baba Bhuja Khia Pir located at Sunhat village on Chandipur road would get a facelift after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 1 crore for its improvement. The decision of the State Government has been hailed by one and all of the district.
The famous and prominent shrine of the district is one among the 23 religious places included in the list of renovation and improvement of the State Government.
There had been demands by the shrine committee for improvement of the religious place where hundreds of devotees of different faiths congregate on every Thursday and lakhs including those outside the State, visit during annual Urs which is observed each year during last week of March between Wednesday and Friday for three days.
The shrine was lacking a guest house for the outside visitors. Besides, it lacks a wider space for worship.
It is said that Hajrat Sawale Mohammad had come to India with six brothers from Arab countries. Among seven brothers, while four had settled in Baleswar, three others settled elsewhere in India. He sat underneath a neem tree and resolved problems of the people. Since he was only consuming bhuja, puffed rice, he is known as Bhuja Khia Pir Baba.
While people across all religions visit the shrine seeking fulfillment of their desires and mitigation of distress, in fact, Hindus outnumber the Muslims in the shrine during festive occasions.