This Decades-Old Temple In Odisha Reveres Cats Along With Deities

Believe it or not, there is a Monastery in the Kendrapada district of Odisha where cats live king-size lives. They are revered and taken care of with utmost devotion. The feline residents have a special place at Bileikhia Mutt, a monastery named after them, under the Nikirai Panchayat in Mathasahi in Kendrapada. Amid the serene corridors and sun-dappled verandahs of the ancient mutt, cats roam freely, stretch lazily, and curl up in quiet nooks, sharing sacred space with centuries-old traditions. Named after the Odia word for cat, 'Belei,' the Bileikhia Mutt has become a rare sanctuary where cats are honored in the name of Lord Madan Mohan Jew, the presiding deity of the temple located on the premises. There is a daily ritual... after offerings to the deities, the temple cats are fed before the remnants are distributed to devotees. The Mahant or the head priest ensures the cats are nourished with biscuits, milk, and specially cooked rice, and other delicacies that cats relish. 10 cats are there at the mutt presently , many born within its shelter, while others were handed over by owners unable to care for them.