Dasia Bouri Baligaon is situated in the Teisipur Gram Panchayat area under Pipli Block of Puri District. It is 33 kms. away from Puri as well as Bhubaneswar, and is on the side of National Highway 203. Bhakta Dasia Bauri was born here at Baligaon more than 500 years ago. This village is associated with every activity of Dasia, where he showed his wife the Car Festival in the water of the famous pond Gothagadia,and from where he also sent a coconut to Puri through a Brahmin Pandit for Lord Jagannath. Finally, Dasia died in this small village on the auspicious occasion of Magha Sukla Ekadasi.

A Jagannath Temple was constructed at Baligaon just two years ago by the initiative of the local M.L.A and the devotees and members of Bhakta Dasia Smruti Committee. The Jagannath Temple of Baligaon consists of the main temple and the mukhasala with 22 steps. The main temple is 55 ft. in height and 25 ft. wide. Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath, Maa Subhadra and Sudarsan are the presiding Deities worshipped in the main temple.

A life size bronze statue of Bhakta Dasia is placed on a pedestal in front of the Jagannath Temple at Baligaon. The statue has folded his hands around a coconut. He is in a kneeling position, offering the sacred fruit to Lord Jagannath. The statue is 4 ft. in height and 2.5 qtls.

In addition to the Jagannath Temple, Baligaon has also Bhakta Dasia Smruti Mandir over the Samadhi (tomb) of Dasia. The Tulsi garden of the smruti pitha has special importance in Jagannath Culture. Tulsi leaves are sent from here daily to Srimandir, Puri for decoration of Their Lordships.

The Bhakta Dasia Memorial Library has been here since 1978. The library has a variety of books covering a wide range subjects, including Philosophy, History, Vedic Literature, Jagannath Culture, Religious Scripture, a collection on Bhakta Dasia, etc. The total books available in this library are 3,000 in numbers.

Daily Rituals: The day starts with Surya Puja and Dwarapala Puja in Jagannath Temple at 5.30 A.M. followed by Mangal Alati. Balya Bhoga and Gopal Bhoga are done thereafter at 8 A.M. and 9 A.M. respectively. The mid-day Anna Prasad Bhoga is offered to Their Lordships at 12.30 P.M., followed by Pahuda at 1 P.M. Pahuda continues up to 3 P.M. Thereafter the doors open for Darshan. Sandhya Alati takes place at 6.30 in the evening. At 9.30 P.M. Ratrabhoga is served to the Deities. Then comes the Pahuda at 10 P.M.

The festivals observed in Baligaon Jagannath Temple are few. The main functions include the Birth day celebration of Bhakta Dasia on Kartika Sukla Ekadasi, Kartika Purnima, death anniversary of Dasia on Magha Sukla Ekadasi, Jhulana Parva and annual day celebration of temple entry of Their Lordships.

Reference: Bhakta Mala – Special issue of Kalyan, published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 1952.
Bhakta Charita – Special issue of Kalyan, published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur, 26th year Vol.- I.
Spot visit and interview with Dr. G.S. Swain, Secretary, Bhakta Dasia Smruti Committee on 11.06.2011.
Source: Orissa Review