If Rajasthan has a temple where rats are worshiped, then here is a temple where cats that are taken care of. However, unlike the Karni Mata temple in Rajasthan, the devotees visiting Bilei Khia Mutt in Nikirai under Kendrapada district are not allowed to come near the sanctum sanctorum of the temple where only the cats and Mahanta of the mutt can go. The devotees pay their obeisance from outside the temple.
It is said that the temple has been feeding cats since the time when Aul royals ruled here. The then Aul king had donated land to the mutt to ensure that the cats are fed here daily twice.Till today the Mahanta(priest) of the Bilei Khia Mutt at Nikirai’s Mathasahi feed and take care of the cats. The Madanmohanjew temple was later constructed in the same premises.
