As a classic, fascinating character in the epic Mahabharata, known for his power and prowess, the eldest among Pandava offspring is worshipped as a deity in Himachal Pradesh and Indonesia, informs Dr. B Jagadish

Not far from the Museum of Himachal Culture and Folk Art, in the rugged but beguiling tourist town of Manali in Himachala Pradesh, a road named after Hidimbaa (Hidimbi) in Dhungari village leads to a big, old canopied deodar tree in the woods. Under the canopy, piled up weapons of war pay obeisance to a lofty personality and acclaimed warrior of Mahabharata war. Yes, you have arrived at the open air tree temple of Ghatotkacha! 

Ghatotkacha, a fascinating, fierce warrior in the epic Mahabharata, is adored and revered as a deity by Himachali people for his velour, loyalty to his father, Bhima’s clan. Close by is the temple dedicated to his mother Hidimbi.
Although, Gatotkacha is described as a demon or rakshasa or asura in popular discourses, here people of Himachal depict him as a human and belonging to an indigenous rakshasa tribe to which her mother belonged. Few scholars claim she belonged to Dasyu, an indigenous tribe, mentioned in several ancient scriptures inhabiting the regions of Himachala Pradesh.
The name Ghatotkacha consist of two words: ‘Ghata’ means pot, and ‘Utkacha’ means head. This means a person having a pot like round, big head. In Adi Parva of Mahabharata we find the story of the birth of Ghatotkacha. After escaping from the burning Lakyagriha, Pandavas reached a dense forest area called Kamyaka Vana where the rakshasa Hidimba lived with his sister, Hidimbi. Exhausted from long travel Pandavas fell asleep except Bhima who kept watch. 

Exhorted by her brother, Hidimbi reached the spot where Pandavas were taking rest with the intention to trap and lure them to her brother’s den. However, she fell in love with Bhima, disclosed her true identity and intention. Bhima confronted Hidimba and killed him in a fierce duel. She wanted to marry Bhima. Bhima married her with certain conditions and remained with her until Ghatotkacha’s was born. Ghatotkacha was brought up by his mother and was taught all the crafts of her mother’s tribe to become an expert in warfare, deception and alchemy.
The epic Mahabharata mentions Ghatotkacha as a chieftain having immense power and incredible ability and fierce loyalty to his father’s people.  He adopted to the life of his mother’s tribe who probably were skilled warriors with strong physique as were evident with many indigenous tribes existing in that period having special skill sets and knowledge like night raids, guerrilla tactics, probably not known to the mainstream warriors. Ghatotkacha’s birth, his mixed parentage hints at the period witnessed with intermingling and interfaith marriage between the Vedic and the non-Vedic tribes, 
He fought valiantly in the Kurukshetra war and wreaked havoc, brought destruction to the Kaurava army. On the fourteenth day of this war, after the fall of Jayadratha, angry Duryodhana continued the war past the sunset. From Pandava side, Ghatotkacha led and raised a fierce battle raining destruction on the opponent army. Karna confronted Ghatotkacha and killed him using a special, weapon.  
Ghatotkacha had three sons:  Anjanaparvan, Meghavarna and Barbarika,. Anjanaparvan was killed in the Mahabharata war. Barbarika’s existence is debated as he is not found in the official renditions of Mahabharata, but mentioned in later additions like Skanda Purana. However, Ghatotkacha’s lineage is supposed to have extended longer with the claims of the royal family of the Dimasa Kingdom to be the descent from him.
Besides his tree temple at Dhungri, Manali, the deity also has a more traditional style temple in the region of Bhuntar where he is represented with the traditional Himachali metal mask. There is a temple built in Champawat, Uttrakhand where it is said that his head fell after he was killed by Karna. 
In Indonesia, Ghatotkacha is a much adored,  popular character. In Javanese wayang, he is known as Gatotkoco with superhero fame, and is also well known with the nickname “Satria otot kawat balung wesi” (Wire muscle and Iron bone Warrior). For Javanese and Balinese people, Ghatotkacha is revered as a deity, popularly depicted in artworks and statues such as the Satria Gatotkaca Park Statue at Kuta in Bali. A 7th Century Hindu temple structure in Dieng Temples complex in Central Java is named as “Ghatotkacha Temple” in honor of this Mahabharata hero.