Khordha, Sept 28: The land of brave heart, khordha which once saw the first ever uprising against British rulers has also been known for the Paikas.
The second Khordha Heritage Walks (KHW) on Sunday was centered around exploring that great traditional Paika martial arts.
Led by Paika guru Kabiraj Pradhan, young Paikas demonstrated traditional combat techniques using indigenous weapons. They had formed the military backbone of the Khordha kingdom under the Bhoi dynasty. They protected the kingdom and the dynasty, while their traditions remained deeply connected with the local communities and village deities.
During the heritage walk, Paika guru explained the rigorous training in traditional weapons, including swords, urmi (wavy iron sword like weapon), laudi (long fighting sticks), knives, dhals, and other weapons .The military legacy was linked to Jayee Rajguru and later Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar, military chief of khordha king during 1817.
The walk began at Dhabaleswar temple, where trust board member Badrinarayan Sahu discussed its history rituals and traditions. Eminent educationalist and historian Satyabadi Baliarsingh also addressed the participants. An inscription in the temple’s marriage hall mentioned names and the year 1344AD. Its historical context tentatively suggested an 18th century construction phase, though further epigraphic study was required to establish its exact date.
Participants later visited Maa Anlei thakurani temple at Wilkinson nagar, popularly known as Sahib Nuagaon. Senior journalist Gopal Pradhan explained the temple’s history, significance, rituals and festivals besides discussing Wilkinson Nagar's historical background and story behind its name.
Senior journalists and heritage enthusiasts Samarendra Baliarsingh, Prabhat Panigrahi, Dilip Pattnaik and Pradeep Sahu participated along with KHW convener Jyotsna Mohapatra. Enthusiasts from Puri, Cuttack, Parikud, Pipili and other parts of Odisha also joined.
The second KHW aimed to connect the younger generation with Khordha's sacred traditions, local history, living heritage and Paika martial culture while promoting awareness and appreciation of Odisha's historical legacy.
