The construction of the famous Nagoba temple at Keslapur in Indervelli mandal here began on Sunday with a puja.
The new, expansive temple would be constructed in stone at a cost of ₹1.5 crore.
The Nagoba temple belongs to the Buigoita branch of the Mesram clan of Raj Gond tribe where the famous Nagoba or Keslapur jatara is held every year in January-February.
As the number of visitors has been steadily increasing over the years, the need for temple expansion was felt.
The Mesram clan families pooled in over ₹1 crore towards construction of the temple while the remaining amount was funded by the government.
“Though the temple would not be complete by the time the jatara starts, we will give it shape where the Mesrams can perform their prayers and other rituals,” disclosed shilpi Talari Ramesh from Allagadda in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.