Centuries-Old Temple in Odisha Celebrates Janmashtami with Devotion and Tradition

The famous Khirachora Gopinath Temple in Remuna, Balasore district of Odisha celebrated the auspicious occasion of Janmashtami on August 16, 2025. The centuries-old Vaishnav shrine, steeped in legend, is one of the most prominent in the state.

According to temple tradition, the deity earned the name Khirachora Gopinath (Gopinath, the thief of milk pudding) centuries ago when Lord Krishna, moved by the longing of his ardent devotee Madhavendra Puri, secretly kept aside a portion of the famous "khira bhoga" (milk pudding) and delivered it to him through the temple priest. This incident has made the temple a center of faith and pilgrimage, drawing devotees from across the country.

The shrine houses three deities - Madan Mohan, Govinda, and Gopinath. Pilgrims believe that the darshan of these three deities completes the spiritual experience. Each day, nearly 300 to 400 litres of milk are brought from nearby villages to prepare the celebrated "amrutakeli" (sweetened condensed milk offering) using traditional wooden stoves. The prasad, famed for its purity, is served in earthen pots and distributed among devotees.

Thousands of devotees, including Gouranga Pal from Kolkata and Triptirekha Mohanty from Keonjhar, thronged the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Gopinath on Janmashtami. The rituals and special pujas continued late into the night, as the temple sevayat (priest) narrated the ancient story connecting Lord Rama to the shrine.