Odisha couple bids Rs 41, 000 for pitcher of water to get a child

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 27:

A childless couple in the Odisha capital bid a whopping Rs 41, 000 for a pitcher of holy water from the famous ‘Marichi Kunda’ near Mukteshwar temple here, which it believes would get them a child, last night.

The couple – Mugdha Mohanty and Shailendu Mohanty of Shatabdi Nagar here – was the highest bidder this year for the second pitcher of water after the first was set aside for consecration and other rituals on the eve of Rukuna Rath Yatra, the Car Festival of the Lord Lingaraj, late last night.

“Jahan Dawa Kaam Nahi Aata..Wahan Dua Kaam Aata Hai…” (Where medical science fails, divine intervention works). We have tried every possible means to conceive a child, but in vain. One of my sisters-in-law was able to attain motherhood after bathing with this holy water and we believe that it would work for us too,” a beaming Mugdha said after winning the bid.

Ranjita Swain, wife of Biswanath Swain of Haladia in Khordha district, paid up Rs 11,500 for the next pitcher.

Notably, the minimum bid price was fixed at Rs 14, 500. The auction took place in the presence of police personnel, Lingaraj temple administration staff and members of Badu Nijog (The association of temple priests in Lingaraj Temple).

Childless parents make a beeline at the mystic water source near the temple to obtain pots of water. Since time immemorial, the auction takes place on this auspicious day every year. Childless couples take part in the auction and the highest bidder takes away the prized possession.

After taking the possession of the magical water, the women take bath with this water in the temple precincts as per the rituals for which makeshift bathrooms are erected.

It may be recalled that a couple from Kendrapara district had outperformed the bidders at Rs 21,000 last year .