When you take your car through the Angul district, the sky undergoes a transformation. The atmosphere is heavy and warm. Huge vehicles loaded with black stones pass by you. The black stones are what the giant ovens of coal deposits in Telcher are made of. However, in the midst of this hustle and bustle of industrial land, there is a small peaceful, quiet place that feels totally different. It is just off a little water channel from the Brahmani River. There live the inhabitants of Maa Hingula. The Hingula temple is different from other temples where you can see a stone idol. Here the goddess is worshipped as the fire itself. It is not a grand temple, but when the wind brings towards you the smell of coal and incense, it is as if the earth is breathing.
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ToggleThe tradition of Maa Hingula temple in Angul goes back a very long time and is inseparably linked to the royal kitchen of Lord Jagannath at Puri. It is a secret belief that Hingula Maa is the fire which cooks the holy Mahaprasad in the temple of Lord Jagannath in Puri. She makes the journey from the kitchen to this place in Talcher every year. Here, there is no permanent idol. Instead, from the earth, she manifests as a flame. The heart knows what the signs don’t say that this fire is the life force of the whole region.
The heat coming from the burning pits is so strong that it feels like it can overpower you. At first, it may seem scary. But when you witness thousands of people silently and happily waiting in line, you lose your fear. You understand that for the residents, this fire isn’t something to be afraid of. It is a mother’s love.
The surroundings of the Maa Hingula temple at Talcher are quite a contrast. The earth is black with coal dust and the temple is located in an area named Gopalprasad. The main Hingula temple Talcher is very ordinary outwardly, but the cultural atmosphere is extremely strong. The local coal miners don’t start their work without first taking the name of the goddess. They think that she is their protector even deep underground, where the air is scarce. You will not find any shouting or pushing here. The locals rather with a slow, heavy respect. They offer coal and ghee to the sacred fire. It is a gesture that says, “We take from the earth, and we give back to the earth.” Even the big mining companies stop their machines during the festival days to pay their respects to Maa Hingula.
If you intend to go to the Maa Hingula temple Talcher, the ideal time would be during the Hingula Yatra in April. That is the time when it is believed that the goddess manifests in the fire pit. The Maa Hingula telcher vicinity becomes highly congested at that time, so make sure to get there early in the morning. Put on simple cotton clothes which you can easily let get a little dusty. The coal dust is in every direction. Take the temple area paths at a slow pace. Consult the priests; they have amazing fire tales that will make you shiver. It is a spot that demands humility from you. Besides, don’t only see the industry. Look at the fire. You are going to leave as if you have really interacted with something ancient and very authentic.
