Odisha weavers create 'pagdi' for Mallikarjuna temple in AP

Berhampur: The Dera community weavers of Berhampur donated a 365 hand length-long 'pagdi' to the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple in Andhra Pradesh today. The 'pagdi' will be put up on the temple mast and on the nine trees present on the premises of the temple on the occasion of Shivaratri on March 4.

The weavers had last offered such a 'pagdi' to the temple in the year 1980. This is the second occasion when the weavers of the Dera community have been given the opportunity to weave the 'pagdi', sources said.

A priest, A Lingamurti said that the 'pagdi' was prepared in three months and is meant for the well-being of the people of Dera community.

"The 'pagdi' is put up on the temple mast at 12 AM in the midnight of 'Shivratri.' The people of our community including women put in their efforts to prepare the 'pagdi' for the well-being of the whole community," he said.

"This is the second such occasion when we have been assigned to weave the 'pagdi' for the Mallikarjuna temple. We had woven the 'pagdi' way back in the year 1980," said Singheswar Rao, a member of the Dera community.