GAURIPUR, April 1 - The more than 120 year old historic Sanyasidham situated four km away from Golakganj town on the eastern side on a heap of clay in the middle of the Otar beel covering more than 300 acres of land and full of plants and nal reeds, is presently in a neglected state. This has caused concern among the devotees of the surrounding villages including South Tokrerchara, Gaikhowa, Naowabhita, Baniamari, Dimakuri, Khek Shiyali, Raipur, Nandinipar, Chatabhita and Uchita.
According to legends, the name of the beel was derived from the nearby village Otarban. As the beel was full of different plant varieties and reeds, the cowherd boys of the nearby villages used to graze their cattle in the beel. While grazing their cattle, they were in the habit of singing and dancing. Among the cowherd boys, Dupariya Ray and his mate Khela Ram Ray thought of taking shelter near the heap of clay where there were a few trees. They also thought of construction of a temple on the top of the heap and accordingly with the help of the elders, they constructed a small temple for the purpose of taking shelter and to pray for the return of their lost cattle and thus the temple came into being. Gradually the people of the nearby villages started coming to the temple and began to pray for their peace of mind and happiness. A big idol of Lord Shiva was also installed. The belief of the fulfilment of the wishes of the devotees started spreading like wildfire and the popularity of the temple started increasing.
Every year on the occasion of Doul Purnima, hundreds of devotees throng the temple at Sanyasidham and offer prayers. A big mela is also organised where traders from all parts of the district and North Bengal take part.
The temple lacks infrastructure facilities as there is no proper road communication to reach the site. It is connected by two broken village roads � one from Gandhigram village and the other from South Raipur village. There is a small bhog ghar without doors or windows. The temple lacks any rest house and the devotees have to stand in the open field braving the hot sun. There are only two trees � one the Indian fig tree and the other a kadamba tree to provide shade. There is only one deep tubewell but the platform is full of mud. The temple is not yet electrified.
The devotees of the adjoining areas have urged the Government to construct a motorable road and a rest house for shelter, dismantle the existing bhog ghar and construct a new one in its place and provide electrification. They also demanded proper facilities for drinking water and removal of encroachment of the cultivable land measuring 50 bighas, recorded as khas land and hand over to the management committee its regular income.
