Meet 51-year- old Sujit Bepari, a resident of Ramnagar village and by profession, a boat maker. He and his wife have been worshipping a plastic jar for last 16 years. Though it is curious, the couple is doing it as the jar had been a savior for Sujit during the Super Cyclone which hit Odisha coast on October 29, 1999.
Sujit Bepari stated that he had gone near Nehru Bangala following a boatman called him on October 28, 1999 to repair his boat at the Mahanadi river mouth near Paradip. While he was repairing the trawler in a makeshift camp near the jetty, the gale with wind speed of about 300 km per hour struck and destroyed the camp and threw him and four other persons who were inside the camp into the water.
While three persons were swept away by high tides, it was a narrow escape for Sujit. He managed to hold a plastic jar, which was floating near him in the water and started floating on the water over it for two days in a rough sea in the Bay of Bengal. later, he managed to reach the shore by the help of the same floating jar with empty stomach and thirsty mouth.
“I had been without food or drinking water for the two days and nights after Super Cyclone hit the coast on October 29, 1999 eventing. In fact, I was not hungry. But I was terribly thirsty and waiting for imminent death. But somehow, I reached the coast safe on Sunday,” said Sujit.
Narrating his experience, he said, “When I reached at my house, the family members and neighbours stood awestruck. later, I described my horrible tale to them. As the jar saved my life, so my wife Subarna took the jar to the house and kept it at a place for worship.”
Curiously, the couple has been worshipping the plastic jar which saved Sujit’s life since last 16 years. Every day after taking bath the couple sits in front of the plastic jar, puts vermillion and flowers on it and worships it, said Sujit. “When I was floating with the jar, I had already lost hope and was sure that I was going to take a watery grave but alas I was saved!” recounted Sujit.