Ancient wooden temple gutted in fire in Bageshwar
Ancient wooden temple gutted in fire in Bageshwar
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Oct 16
Devotees of Goddess Bhagwati in the Malla Danpur area of Bageshwar district were left grief-stricken after an ancient wooden temple dedicated to the deity, regarded as the presiding goddess of the region, was gutted in a fire this morning. Local villagers said the temple remained engulfed in flames for several hours.
According to local residents, the fire may have been caused either by oil lamps lit by devotees inside the temple or by a short circuit. However, the exact cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained.
“The ancient Badiakot temple of Goddess Bhagwati, located in the Malla Danpur area about 50 km from the Kapkot sub-divisional headquarters, was spotted in flames this morning. As fire services are not available in this remote area, the temple continued to burn for several hours,” said Aan Singh, a resident of Badiakot village.
He said the temple was not merely a centre of deep religious faith for the local population but also an important cultural landmark, renowned for its intricate wooden craftsmanship.
“The loss has deeply saddened the villagers, particularly because the temple was gutted during Navratri, a period of special religious significance for devotees of Goddess Bhagwati,” Aan Singh said.
