Back to 2022 — The Day I Found “Jagannath” Far From Odisha
There are some moments in life that instantly make you feel at home, no matter how far you are — and for me, that moment happened in Dibrugarh, Assam, of all places!
It was 2022. I was working in Assam, staying inside the Air Force Station, Chabua Camp. My days were mostly filled with work, tea, and the occasional “Areh bhai, chalo market chalte hain” plans that never actually happened. 😅
But one fine Sunday, while casually scrolling through Google Maps (my second home during off days), I spotted something that made my heart skip a beat — “Jagannath Temple, Dibrugarh.”
As an Odia, that name hit me harder than a surprise holiday announcement! The love we Odias have for Lord Jagannath is beyond words. You can take an Odia out of Odisha, but you can never take “Jagannath bhakti” out of an Odia.
The Plan – Bolero, Brothers, and Bhakti
Without wasting a second, I went straight to my colleagues and said,
“Bhai, Dibrugarh mein Jagannath Temple hai!”
At first, they gave me that “Are you sure or are you just missing home again?” look. But soon, everyone agreed. After all, who says no to a road trip on a Sunday?
So, we grabbed the company Bolero, loaded it with our excitement (and snacks, obviously), and set off towards Dibrugarh, about 25 kilometers away.
And trust me, the road felt smoother that day — maybe because we were heading towards Jagannath. Or maybe because our driver was too happy to escape from Chabua duty for a few hours! 😄
The First Glimpse – “Areh, Odisha Aa Gaya Kya?”
For a second, I literally thought, “Areh, did I take a wrong turn to Puri?”
There it was — a magnificent red-stone temple, rising proudly under the blue Assamese sky, with the Patitapaban Bana (flag) fluttering high. The architecture, the carvings, the vibe — everything screamed Odisha!
Inside the Temple – Peace, Prayers, and a Bit of “Photography”
As soon as we entered, a familiar sense of calm hit me. The same smell of incense, the same sound of bells, and that divine feeling you get when you see Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra smiling at you.
“Bapa, even in Assam you found a way to call me!” 🙏
The Feeling – Home Away from Home
Standing there, hundreds of kilometers away from Puri, I felt something beautiful — that connection, that comfort, that pride of being an Odia.
No matter where we go, Jagannath Bapa always finds a way to remind us of home.
When we finally left the temple, my colleagues said,
“Bhai, ab samajh aaye, why you Odias are so emotional about Jagannath!”
I just smiled and said,
“You’ll understand fully only when you eat Mahaprasad in Puri!” 😋
Conclusion – A Must Visit for Every Devotee
If you ever find yourself in Dibrugarh, Assam, don’t miss visiting this Jagannath Temple. It’s not just a place of worship; it’s an emotion — especially for Odias like me living far from home.
So next time you’re sipping that hot Assam tea, take a little detour to this temple. Who knows, you might just find the “Puri feeling” right there among the tea gardens. 🌿🙏