While different customs are followed in various religious places around the globe, there are a few practices that really catch your attention. For instance, some temples in Karnataka consider ‘Marijuana’ sacred & offer devotees ganja ‘Prasad’! Also, did you know that devotees at the Dadhichi Rishi ashram, on the banks of Sabarmati river, offer cigarettes and roses at the shrine?
Every Thursday, hundreds of devotees make this unique offering to the ‘samadhi of Aghori Dada’ in hopes of getting their wishes fulfilled, reports TOI. In fact, the unique custom is being followed even amid the pandemic. However, what’s more interesting is that people cannot offer expensive cigarettes or flowers to Aghori dada.
The devotees can only offer a cheap brand of cigarettes and flowers that are provided to them by the trust for free. “Whether a person comes in a luxurious car or by foot, the same cheap brand of cigarette is offered to Aghori Dada. People cannot offer expensive cigarettes here,” Hitesh Sevak, the managing trustee of the Didhadhari Mahadev Trust was quoted saying by Times Now.
He added how hundreds of devotees would visit the shrine every Thursday before the pandemic hit. But the numbers dropped as the number of cases increased in India. According to him, the Dadhichi ashram was set up even before Ahmedabad city was founded. Explaining the reason behind the bizarre offering he said,
“Items like ‘charas’ and ‘ganja’ are offered to Aghoris, but since these items are prohibited under the law, the practice of offering cigarettes began. Some of the biggest names of Gujarat have visited the shrine and offered cigarettes to Aghori Dada to get their wishes fulfilled.”
He added, “Devotees experience Aghori Dada puffing on the cigarette, and then their wishes get fulfilled.” The devotees light up cigarettes from a flame that is burning at the shrine before placing it in a rack located next to it. This reportedly helps them fulfill their wishes.
Have you ever heard of any such bizarre customs? Tell us.