Gandhi Temple, Bhatara
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| Gandhi Temple, Bhatara | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Gandhism |
| Location | |
| Location | Bhatara, Sambalpur |
| State | Odisha |
| Country | India |
Gandhi Temple built in 1974 is situated at Bhatara in Sambalpur district of the state of Odisha on the eastern coast of India.[1] This temple is dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi.[2] This is the first temple of India, dedicated to Gandhiji.
In the 1960 decade Untouchability was still prevailing in Sambalpur. To stop this heinous practice of untouchability the villagers of Bhatara decided to construct a Gandhi Temple in their village.[3] Abhimanyu Kumar, a former legislator of Rairakhol assembly constituency too the lead and was supported by all the villagers. The foundation stone of the temple was laid on 23 March 1971 and the temple was formally open by then Chief Minister of Odisha Nandini Satpathy on 11 April 1974.[4]