Bhagabati Temple, Banapur

The temple of the goddess Bhagabati in Banapur, Odisha, honours the presiding deity of the town and is well known as a centre of religious life for the area.

Banapur has a long history. It was once the capital of the Sailodbhava dynasty, the rulers behind the early group of temples at Bhubaneswar, and the many Buddhist images found here connect the town with Vajrayana Buddhism. In more recent times the temple drew attention when the Orissa High Court, on 5 October 2010, told the state government to make sure no animal sacrifices took place there during Dussehra.