Puri Trivia & Stories

Puri holds countless fascinating stories and secrets waiting to be discovered. From ancient legends to modern marvels, this destination continues to captivate visitors with its rich heritage.

The Mystery of the Flag on Jagannath Temple

Atop the Jagannath Temple, a flag is hoisted daily by a priest who climbs the temple dome without any safety gear, a tradition that has been unbroken for centuries. The most intriguing aspect is that the flag always flaps *against* the direction of the wind. This phenomenon has baffled scientists and remains a captivating mystery, contributing to the aura of mystique surrounding the temple and its traditions. This change in flag direction is only apparent at the top of the temple, making it impossible to know from the ground. The daily ritual of changing the flag is more than just tradition, it's viewed as a sacred duty and the belief dictates that if the ritual is ever skipped, the temple will crumble.

KEY FACT: The flag on Jagannath Temple always flaps against the wind direction.

The Culinary Wonders of the Jagannath Temple Kitchen

The Jagannath Temple kitchen is not just the world's largest; it also follows a unique cooking method. All the food is cooked in earthen pots placed one on top of the other, using firewood as fuel. Surprisingly, the pot on top cooks first, defying conventional cooking logic. The priests attribute this to divine intervention. Furthermore, the 'Mahaprasad' cooked here is believed to have healing properties and is offered to deities before being distributed among devotees. The sound of the ocean is absent when entering the temple through the Singhadwara (main gate), but can be heard once stepping out, a sensory phenomenon which adds to the temple’s mystique.

KEY FACT: The top pot in the Jagannath Temple kitchen cooks first, despite being furthest from the heat source.

The Unchanging Sea Shell

As mentioned above, entering the Jagannath temple from the Singhadwara (main gate), the sound of the ocean cannot be heard. But once you step out, the sound is back in full force. This phenomena has never been explained; however, it is said that this effect only takes place during the day. The same thing happens with birds, they are not allowed to fly above the temple, you will never see birds sitting on top of the dome and the same goes for planes. It seems as if everything comes to a halt near the vicinity of this sacred shrine. It is as if the temple is a barrier and protects the city from natural calamities.

KEY FACT: No sound inside Jagannath Temple