Castaway

When he came to his senses, he could feel the harsh rays of the sun.

Opening his eyes, he saw that he was lying on a soft bed of sand on a golden beach of a tiny island.

He remembered his boat getting capsized in a terrible cyclone the previous night.

He was alive!

PHOTO PROMPT - Susan Eames

Kalijai Goddess, Temple And Island #AToZChallenge

Odisha boasts of many Goddesses, temples and islands. Kalijai is one of them.

This island named Kalijai is located in Asia's largest lagoon, the Chilika Lake. There is a temple named Kalijai Temple that is dedicated to Goddess Kalijai. 

Chilika Lake has many islands out of which Kalijai is the most famous island as it has the legend of Kalijai associated with it. Kalijai was a newly-married girl who was on her way to her in-laws place when bad weather capsized the boat, she was travelling in, in Chilika Lake. Since then, she has been worshipped as Goddess Kalijai. It is believed that She protects the boats and the travellers.

Local residents worship Goddess Kalijai. Goddess Kalijai is the presiding deity of the lagoon.