Chhatia Bata

Chhatia Bata is a revered religious site in Chhatia village, Jajpur district, Odisha, located on the Cuttack-Jajpur section of National Highway 16. Centered around a sacred banyan tree (Bata) and an associated Jagannath Temple, it is widely known as Chhatia Bata Dham. The site is closely linked to Mahima Dharma and the 19th-century saints Hadidas and Arakhita Das, attracting pilgrims who visit to see the shrine, the historic tree and related religious structures.

Visitors can expect an open temple complex centered on a large sacred banyan tree with shrines dedicated to Lord Jagannath and associated deities. The setting includes temple structures, prayer halls, and open courtyards along NH-16. Pilgrims and tourists typically walk around the Bata, offer prayers, view religious idols and inscriptions, and observe daily rituals in a busy but orderly pilgrimage environment with small shops and food stalls nearby.

Chhatia Bata is historically associated with Mahima Dharma, a 19th-century religious movement in Odisha. Saints Hadidas and Arakhita Das are traditionally linked to the site, where they are believed to have meditated and composed religious texts and prophecies (Malika) related to Lord Jagannath. The Bata and shrine developed as a center for their followers.

The site is an important pilgrimage center for followers of Mahima Dharma and devotees of Lord Jagannath. It is regarded as a sacred Bata Dham where rituals, prayers and gatherings are held, especially during religious festivals. The banyan tree itself is venerated and forms the focal point of worship and cultural identity for the local community.