The District Devottar Department managing the day-to-day affairs of the Sidha Balarm temple has geared up for the Rath Yatra.
Now, it is busy to observe the Debasnana Purnima on the instruction of the royal priest. The deities after being brought on to the Snanamandap will take the holly bath our Thursday.
Sidha Balaram though is worshipped here in the temple as the savior of Dhenkanal, lord Jagannath and Goddess Subhadra only visit to Gundicha Mandir, by two separate chariots, on the occasion of the Rath Yatra as a unique tradition of the Rath Yatra in Dhenkanal.
lord Balaram, lord Jaganath, lord Narayan, Goddess Rukmini and Goddess Subhadra were worshiped in the 70-feet high temple of Sidha Balaram, endowed at the foot hill of Paniohala, during the reign of the king Nrusingha Bhamarabara Singh Vidyadhar in 1960.
Unlike other shrines, the life size idols here of lord Balaram and lord Krishna are beautified with beard and moustache.
The 50- foot high Mukhasala was made by king Kunja Bihari, the son of king Nrusingha.
The Jaga Mohan is situated to the east, adjacent to the Mukhasala. Meanwhile, separate temples of lord Jagannath, lord Siva, lord Rama, laxman and Sita, Goddess Durga, Goddess Maha laxmi and God Hanuman have been constructed within the temple premises.
In 1781, king Trilochan Mahindar Bahadur, by obtaining the blessing of lord Balaram, could put fierce resistance to the Marahata invaders at Sana Sathiebatia and near Jaunlipokhori.
Besides, myth also claims the plan of Gajapati ruler of Khurdha to attack Dhenkanal was given up due to the order of lord Jagannath as His elder brother is worshipped as the protector of Dhenkanal.
The Minaketan Danda presented by the Gajapati Maharaja of Khordha was earlier carried by an elephant. But now it is carried in a jeep in front of the chariots during the Rath Yatra.