JIND: In Haryana‘s Kaithal district, lies the extraordinary village which is known for having only three voters yet still holding the status of a full village. Astonishingly, there are no houses in this village, and these three individuals have never cast their votes, yet political leaders show them great respect. The village Khadalwa has never held a sarpanch election, and its existence is linked to an ancient Shiva temple, home to the temple priest Mahant Raghunath Giri and his two disciples, Lal Giri and Atma Giri.The temple and school are registered under the name of Bechirag village, but there is no actual population.
Khadalwa is associated with 16 acres of agricultural and non-agricultural land, primarily used for fodder for cows. The village’s temple holds community feasts, and wheat and rice crops are cultivated for this purpose. Visitors can stay for free at the village’s dharamshala for up to three days; longer stays require permission from the temple priest. Facilities like a government senior secondary school, a cooperative bank, a temporary bus stand, and a gaushala (cow shelter) are all located on the village land. According to revenue records, the entire village’s heritage is attributed to the temple, with Lord Shiva regarded as the village’s sarpanch and panch.
Mahant Raghunath Giri shares that the village has a history dating back thousands of years, linked to the ancestors of Lord Rama. Once a thriving community, Khadalwa fell to devastation due to invasions by the Sakas and Huns, after which it was never repopulated. A Shiva temple has stood on this land for over 5,000 years, he said.
The village has a government senior secondary school attended not by local children but by those from neighboring villages. Qualified teachers ensure that the school’s performance is better than many nearby institutions. The school, built on over four acres of land, includes a playground for students. Remarkably, this may be the only school in the region where no local children are enrolled, he added.
Despite having no population, Khadalwa maintains separate officials for its administrative needs, including a patwari and a numberdar. Mahant Raghunath Giri explains that since their village is recognized in government records as a full village, it has its own officials. Whenever administrative tasks arise, the district administration assigns responsibilities to the numberdar from the nearby village of Mator. This arrangement has ensured that they have faced no issues with governance. Although they possess voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, and bank passbooks, the residents have never availed themselves of any government schemes.
“This revered temple holds universal significance, with leaders from all parties seeking blessings here before launching their election campaigns. Notably, despite having no votes in the village, this temple remains the chosen starting point for politicians to begin their electoral journey.”
“Kalayat SDM Satyawan Mann reveals village’s rich history behind its significance” According to SDM, the historic temple here has earned immense reverence in the surrounding area. Notably, the village has just three voters, who will cast their ballots in the neighboring village Mator,” he added.