343-Year-Old Statue of Thakurji in Obri, Dungarpur

DUNGARPUR। The Thakurji temple in the town of Obri in Dungarpur district is a symbol of nearly 800 years of religious heritage. The statue of Thakurji installed here was re-established in Vikram Samvat 1739 by local elders and the Vaishnav family. The temple still houses an inscription from that time, which is proof of the statue's reinstallation.

According to historians and local beliefs, about 800 years ago, people of the Parmar dynasty from Kadana in Gujarat reached Obri via Galiyakot. They established the first statue of Vadikhanda Mata and Thakurji here. Over time, this first statue got broken.

Local belief holds that a Vaishnav priest was ordered in a dream that the statue of Thakurji was buried in the fields behind the Umrai Mata temple. After this, the statue was found and reinstalled. Since then, this place is known both for religious faith and as a cultural heritage of the region.

In front of the temple, there is also a statue of Garud Dev, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu. Below the statue of Thakurji, four main attendants Vishvaksen, Garud, Sheshnag, and Lakshmi are seated. The Lord holds conch, discus, lotus, and mace in his four hands.

About seven years ago, women observing the Ekadashi fast also installed small brass statues of Laddu Gopal in the temple. Even today, the long-standing tradition associated with Thakurji continues in Obri.

When a wedding takes place in any family in the town, at the time of Bilona, that is, when the wedding procession departs, the groom dismounts from the horse to first pay respects to Umrai Mata and then to Obri Sarkar Thakurji. Locals believe that receiving Thakurji’s blessings ensures a happy and prosperous life for the newlywed couple.