http://www.kalingatimes.com/odisha_news/news2010/20100626_Dalit_temple_opens_for_public_in_Odisha_town.htm
Dalit temple opens for public in Odisha town KalingaTimes Correspondent Kendrapara, June 26: A Mahalaxmi temple built by Dalits inside the famous Baldevjew temple premises here has been opened for public, eight decades after its foundation was laid. Dalits themselves had built the temple with various factors mainly funds constraints posing hindrance on their temple building mission. On Friday evening, the much-awaited temple was thrown open for public darshan. Gajapati Dibya Singha Deb graced a simple religious function this evening and amid chanting of mantras, he was the first devotee to make his way to the temple. Mahalaxmi temple inside the 300-year-old Baldevjew temple is now opened for puja and darshan. It was the singular effort of the fishermen community here that 47-feet sprawling temple has come up, Baldevjew endowment officials said. The works of the temple fully funded by the fishermen community moved at a snail pace over the years. Its foundation had been laid in 1927. Paucity of funds led to the delay and finally its work is complete and has been readied for puja, Brahmananda Behera, secretary of the temple building committee, said. Unlike in other temples, the dalits have unrestricted access to the temple and there is no caste-related bar on darshan here. The traditional bar on entry of non-Hindus into the temple still remains in force. The famous temple which draws thousands of devotees everyday, was built during the reign of Marahatta Subedars in this region.
