history of hajuri bliss garden
hakhi Khuntia alias Chandan Hajuri, was the legendary figures of
National Freedom Movement of India. Every year his birth day
is celebrated by the Department of I & PR, Government of
Orissa on 20th January. This great man was born on the sacred tithi (day) of Shamba Dasami in
the year 1827 in the famous Hajuri family of Puri Harachandi Sahi. His
father Raghuna
th Khuntia alias Bhimasen Hajuri was a sevak (servant) of
the Lord Jagannath. Since the child was born his father was dressing the
Lord with sandle-paste (Chandan), for this he was given the name
"Chandan Hajuri". In his childhood he was taught
Oriya language and literature in a Chatasali
(pre-school). With his own interest he learned
Hindi to enable him for communicating with
"Yatris" (Pilgrims) of Lord Jagannath. He had
also desire to learn History and Geography of
India, her hoary heritage and heroic tales of
her national leaders. Being a denizen of Puri he was always involved
with all sorts of physical exercises at the Akheda or Jagaghara (local
name for Gym) of Puri. At the age of 12 he got married to Sundarmani. He always accompanied his father for pilgrimage to northern India with
the tourists. During that time he came closer with eminent personalities
of India’s Freedom Movement like Meropanth, father of Laxmi Bai, Laxmi
Bai herself and attracted towards India’s Freedom Movement.
