SRIKAKULAM (ANDHRA PRADESH): The otherwise sleepy fishermen’s village Kapasakuddi in Kaviti mandal of Srikakulam district was a beehive of activities on the 71st Independence Day. But, here is the catch. When the entire country was hoisting the Tricolour and singing national anthem, the residents thronged the temple of Bharat Mata, who happens to be the presiding deity of the village.The celebrations were more a religious affair than patriotic as the small temple of Bharat Mata was tastefully decorated and village women performed special puja by offering saffron, turmeric, fruits and varieties of sweets to the deity.
However, patriotism is not the reason for the celebrations as the villagers believe that Bharat Mata keeps them away from fatal diseases. Legends have it that some six decades ago, there was a cholera outbreak in the locality and Bharat Mata appeared in the dream of Gulla Chakrapani, a resident of the village, saying that she had come to Kapasakuddi to get the residents rid of the infections.
The disease was gone and the residents found an idol of Bharat Mata under a tree on the village outskirts. The villagers then built a temple and since then the deity has been worshipped,” says K Deva Raju, a resident of Kapasakuddi.Though August 15 and January 26 are celebrated with much pomp and gaiety in this village, the residents take the blessings of Bharat Mata on every auspicious occasion.