Berhampur: Every morning, before dawn breaks over silk city, a priest offers prayers before an idol of Mahatma Gandhi at a Jagannath temple in Gosaninuagaon. For 65 years, Gandhi has been worshipped alongside Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra in the temple, built in 1961.Installed as a parsva devata (side deity), Gandhi’s idol has a unique place within the temple premises. A Bhagabat Gadi, the Odia version of the Gita, and other religious texts are kept near the idol. Like other deities, Gandhi’s idol is offered daily worship and bhog. Special rituals are held on Gandhi Jayanti on Oct 2 and his death anniversary on Jan 30.“On Friday, the temple conducted special prayers to mark Gandhi Jayanti,” said Panchanan Choudhury, head of the temple’s managing committee.Many people from Ganjam district had come in contact with Gandhi during his visits to Berhampur in 1921 and 1946. Inspired by him, a number of them had joined the freedom struggle, Choudhury said. He said that till some years back, a few of them would visit the temple and recite Gandhi’s favourite bhajans.Choudhury said he did not know why his forefathers chose to install Gandhi’s idol in the temple. “I think they were inspired by Gandhi’s principles and ideals, which prompted them to install his idol,” he said.Historian and former Berhampur University professor Subash Chandra Padhy said Gandhi’s connection with the town may have influenced the decision. Gandhi visited Berhampur on March 27, 1921, and stayed at Madhu Mandir near the old bus stand. “Those who came in contact with him may have regarded him as god-like and decided to install his idol alongside other deities in the temple,” Padhy said.