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Hans India
18-05-2025
- Hans India
Light & sound show resumes at Samaleswari temple
Sambalpur: The light and sound show at the 16th-century Samaleswari temple in Sambalpur has resumed after six months, an official said. The Samaleswari Temple Trust Board will run and manage the light and sound show, said president of the trust, Sanjay Baboo. He said the script for the light and sound show had been stopped since September 2024 due to a technical snag. The script has been prepared both in Odia and Hindi. 'We are also planning to prepare scripts in Sambalpuri language soon,' he said. The duration of the show will be around 10 minutes, during which the history of Samaleswari temple, rituals and festivals celebrated, and the culture of Western Odisha will be exhibited in the light and sound show, he added. The light and sound show will be an added attraction for tourists visiting the temple. It is also expected that the show will be helpful in attracting more tourists to this holy shrine. The 16th-century Samalesewari temple, which was constructed by the first Chauhan king of Sambalpur, Balram Dev, is a major tourist attraction of this region. Devotees and tourists from across the State come to the temple for a glimpse of the deity, Samaleswari. The State government has set up the Samalei (Samaleswari Temple Area Management and Local Economic Initiative) corridor project over 42 acres of land adjacent to the temple at an expenditure of Rs 200 crore. The facility was inaugurated in January last year. The second phase construction of this project is slated to be completed by February next year, an official said, adding that the first phase of this project includes beautification, river front development, construction of ghat, four gates, cafeteria, renovation of heritage pond, haat (shopping complex), parking area, bhoga mandapam, war watch tower and line system for devotees.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Light & sound show resumes at Samaleswari temple
Sambalpur, The light and sound show at the 16th-century Samaleswari temple in Western Odisha's Sambalpur city has resumed after six months, an official said. The Samaleswari Temple Trust Board will run and manage the light and sound show, said president of the trust, Sanjay Baboo. He said the script for the light and sound show has been stopped since September 2024 due to a technical snag. The script has been prepared both in Odia and Hindi. "We are also planning to prepare scripts in Sambalpuri language soon," he said. The duration of the show will be around ten minutes, during which the history of Samaleswari temple, rituals and festivals celebrated, and the culture of Western Odisha are also being exhibited in the light and sound show, he added. The light and sound show will be an added attraction for tourists visiting the temple. It is also expected that the show will be helpful in attracting more numbers of tourists to this holy shrine. The 16th-century Samalesewari temple, which was constructed by the first Chauhan king of Sambalpur, Balram Dev, is a major tourist attraction of this region. Devotees and tourists from across the state come to the temple for a glimpse of the deity, Samaleswari. The state government has set up the Samalei corridor project over 42 acres of land adjacent to the temple at an expenditure of ₹200 crore. The facility was inaugurated in January last year. Second phase construction of this project slated to be completed by February next year, an official said, adding that the first phase of this project includes beautification, river front development, construction of ghat, four gates, cafeteria, renovation of heritage pond, haat , parking area, bhoga mandapam, war watch tower and line system for devotees.
New Indian Express
04-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Samaleswari temple's drive to bring back sparrows
SAMBALPUR: Sparrows, that were once a common sight around Samaleswari temple, have gradually disappeared, with the urban growth robbing the little birds of their nesting sites. But with temple premises now widened and tall constructions cleared to pave way for SAMALEI project, efforts are being made to draw the birds back. In an initiative spearheaded by Sanjay Baboo, president of the Samaleswari Temple Trust Board, bird nests are being installed across the temple premises with an aim to create a welcoming environment for the sparrows. Currently, 10 earthen bird nests have been put up on several trees on the temple premises. Also, paddy stalks have been hung and water vessels placed at multiple locations to fulfil the food and water needs of theses birds. 'I remember seeing house sparrows flocking near the temple during my childhood. But, due to rapid urbanisation and several concrete structures coming up around the shrine, they became a thing of the past. Now that there is widespread greenery and several trees on the temple premises, I thought of giving it another try with the hope of welcoming the sparrows back to the temple. I believe it is possible if we create a conducive environment for them,' Sanjay said. The nests have been placed away from the main shrine to avoid crowd. 'Earlier, we had tried putting up few nests on the watchtower of the temple, but some experts suggested that we place them on trees instead. We are looking for other nesting options and trying to improve the atmosphere to support their nesting,' he added.
