Baladevjew temple priest Balaram Patri said though the Puri deities change their bodies during the Nabakalebar, the same festival is not done for lord Baladevjew and other deities of the shrine as the bodies are made up of stone. He said that since the idols are not replaced, the temple and the deities have been discoloured. He informed that some local youths have started colouring the temple and the deities by spending money from their own purse. They are also collecting donations from their near and dear ones.
These enthusiastic youths of the township have decided to refurbish the lord Baladevjew temple by white washing the temple before the Nabajaubana darshan day. “We have estimated a sum of Rs 5.40 lakh for spending the money for the temple colouring .We have been collecting donations from the near and dear ones and also spending money for colouring the temple and the side deities. We have planned to organize a yangya in the temple on the auspicious day when Brahma will be changed for the Puri deities. The same day prasad for the deities would be distributed,” stated Ranjan Prusty, a local who has undertaken the work along with other volunteers.