Samaleswari Temple

Samaleswari Temple is a Hindu temple in Western Orissa, India dedicated to the goddess known as MAA, also known among the natives as "samalei maa", meaning Mother Samaleswari.

MAA (mother) Samaleswari is the pristine goddess known in the Sambalpur region of India. Sambalpur is the headquarters of Sambalpur District, in the western portion of Orissa state.

She is worshiped with a great care and devotion by the natives in her temple, famously known as the samaleswari temple. Among the varieties of festivals observed before the goddess throughout the year three festivals are observed prominently. The first two are "navaratra puja" during the months of March and April and during the months of September and October. Among these two "navaratra pujas" (nine days continuous worship of the goddess) the second one is observed with a great splendour and devotion. The third festival which is said to be the chief festival of the whole western Orissa (sambalpur) region is "nuakhai". In this festival the farmers offer the first produce from their lands to the goddess before using it for his personal use.