Gandola


Gandala is a small village located in the eastern coastline of Ganjam District in the Indian state of Odisha.

Overview

Gandala is a town under the panchayat of Hinjilicut near to Berhampur City. Majority of people in this town are dependent on cultivation.
Gandala has an average elevation of.

Demographics

According to a 2013 report on world Gazetter India census, Gandala-Belagan had a population of 8389 which is more than Gopalpur port town. Gandala is a Panchayat & Belagan also a Panchayat. Both the villages are merged about 30 years back like Hinjili and katu.
The village is agog with activities to welcome goddess Budhi Thakurani to her temporary abode for the biennial Thakurani Jatra festival at late night.
The hereditary head of the festival, who is also regarded as the head of the weaver Dera community of the city, Desibehera dressed in his traditional attire reached the Budhi Thakurani temple to invite the goddess to her parental abode at his home on Saturday afternoon.
His wife also accompanied him as per the tradition. They also offered ritualistic offerings at the Kalika temple.
Rituals to welcome the deity for the festival started at the temporary temple built at Desibehera street from evening with the 'Changudi Puja'.
After rituals, flowers would be carried from Desibehera's house to the Budhi Thakurani temple in this special basket called 'Changudi'.
After offering these flowers to the deity, special rituals would be conducted at the temple that would continue till some of these offered flowers fall down from the deity.
These fallen flowers would be carried as representative of the deity to Desibehera street in a large decorated procession at late night.
A special police outpost for Thakurani Jatra was opened up at Desibehera Street.