The temple of Jagannath is situated in Purana-nagar. The building is of pucca masonry. The Story about its origin is that about 300 years ago a Beragi came to Suket from Jagannath on the coast of Orissa. He had an idol of Jagannath made of sandalwood. Hearing that he wished to sell it the Suket Durbar offered him Ps. 500 for it, but he refused the offer, saying that he was taking the idol to Kullu, the Raja of which had promised him Rs. 1,000. By chance, the Beragi died before he could set out for Kulu, and consequently, by Raja’s order, the idol was placed in the building previously used as a seraglio. He appointed pujaris to the temple and granted land for its maintenance, spending Rs. 500, the price of the idol, on the funeral ceremonies of the Beragi and built the temple at State expense.
Endeavours have been made to ascertain the date of the temple without success. The largest idol is that of Jagannath which is a cubit in height. The nose, mouth, eyes and the hands without fingers are visible. At its right is an idol of Balbhadra and on its left is the idol of Lakshmi. There are also some other small idols in the temple. The management of the temple is entrusted to the pujaris who belong to the Kondal clan of Brahmans and possess only one house in the State. None else but the pujaris can work in the temple. The bhog offered to Jagannath consists of rice, pulse, etc. On the 2nd of Asarh Sndi (the date on which a fair is held at Jagannath, Puri, in Orissa) a fair is held here. A brief account of the fair is given below: —
Jagannath is supposed to become angry with his wife in consequence of some misunderstanding. The pujaris are unable to explain how the quarrel arose beyond saying that this is an imitation of what is done at Jagannath in Orissa. The pujaris and others assemble, place the idol in a palanquin and take it to Jamag Garden on the Ghangal stream and stay there for two days. There is an idol of Ramchandra in the garden and Jagannath pays a visit to it. On the third day, Jagannath’s wife goes to the garden and is reconciled to him.
The idol is then brought back to the temple and worshipped. When it is taken to the Jamag garden, the procession is attended by the State officers; elephants and horses forming the retinue. Other people with drums, flags and palkis also join it. The idol is brought back in full retinue. Sometimes His Highness the Raja graces the procession with his presence.
