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The wooden temple at Nichar is dedicated to goddess Usha
locally known as 'Ukha', because in some regions the letter (Sh) in
pronounced as (kh).
On certain occasion villagers assemble and make religious offerings and
take their food here. In one of the room plates of bell metal belonging to
the goddess are housed. It is customery to use these plates of bell metal
for taking food when the gathering is large.
As rule none except the 'Bhandari' is eligible to enter this room. Even
the Bhandari is under traditional taboo not to look about inside the room
while bringing out the plates. This condition was perhaps imposed on the
Bhandari to discourage him from disclosing the contents of the room.
THE LEGEND OF UNSHA DEVI TEMPLE
A number of legends are associated with Usha, who in a number of Puranis
legends is the generic name to the heavenly damsel (Apsara) in the court
of 'Indra', This heavenly damsel is supported to be endowed with the super
charm and grace. Her celestial beauty and has been considered to be so
overpowering that sages and ascetics have fallen victim to her harms
through ages.
As the story goes, there lived a sage called 'Ahan' who worshipped Brahma
for a million years and he acquired the mystic power to create anything
out of dust. 'Indra' became apprehensive of this sage lest his throne be
lost if Ahan. With the blessings of Brahma Ahan created the sun so that
when Usha descended to earth she immediately vanished due to the powerful
light of the sun. Indra, undeterred and undaunted in his designs,
continued sending down Usha day after day, Ultimately the sage married
Usha.