The Sidhi Binayak Pitha at Panchama witnessed a turnout of over a lakh devotees on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Elaborate arrangements were made to celebrate the occasion at the ancient shrine where the Lord is believed to have emerged from a cavity of a peepal tree. Situated about 12 km from here, at Randha square near Andhra-Odisha border, the temple has 15th century architecture. According to historians, the shrine has been visited by several high-profile devotees and scholars including king Purushotom Dev and Kanchi Kamakothi Pitha Sankaracharya.
Though thousands of devotees from various parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal throng the shrine during Ganesh Chaturthi, no measures have been taken for its development. Sources said neither the Tourism Department nor the State Archaeology have shown any interest to tap the potential of this shrine and develop it into a centre of tourist getaway. At present, the temple is managed with public donations and by priests from Raulo community. However, they were forced to resort to alternative professions as the earnings from the temple are too meagre for sustenance of their families.
Apart from the Panchama shrine, thousands of devotees congregated at Hillpatana and Lala street in the city to worship the Elephant God.
At Aska Road, the main attraction is a pandal which is housing a 17-ft idol of Lord Ganesh.