Ahmedabad: You may have heard that Diamond Cuts Diamond, but have you ever heard alcohol defeating alcohol? At the Temple of Lord Panchia Chest in Ghaghretia Village in Limdi Taluka from Surendragar Regency, the worshipers came from afar to offer liquor – along with ‘bite’ – for gods, hoping to help loved ones overcoat alcoholism! Although Gujarat has been a dry condition since its formation in 1960, a small temple located outside the Temple of Dewi Mua Maa made visitors almost every day.
Many of them even come from countries like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, say locals.
While some offering state liquor, others carry Indian liquor makes India.
“Recently, someone from Mumbai brought a bottle of wine to be offered to the god,” said Manu Chauhan, Chair of the village of Nyay Samiti.
Sarpanch village Shamat Bharwad said, “Our village is famous for the miracles worked by Panchia Chest.
Visitors, not only from other districts but also other countries, who want their family members to stop with addiction to liquor coming here.” He added, “People have visited this temple for more than a century.
Even my grandfather doesn’t remember when the tradition starts.
It all starts with the myth that a saint helps people fight alcoholism through divine power.
Then, a temple is built to respect it.
However, not There is historical evidence of this.
“This is not the only temple in the state where liquor is offered to the gods.
In the city of Ahmedabad, locals offer liquor to Lord Bhairavnath in a temple in Maninagar and Dewi Meldi in Naroda.
People also flock to Bhathiji Maharaj Temple in Davda Village in Kheda District and Kaal-Bhairav Temple in Kutch Bhuj City.
However, while the number of worshipers almost shrank to nil in these places after strict liquor laws enforced.
Panchia Chest Temple continues to attract people to believe in people who offer something from ‘quareriya’ to ‘khambha’ liquor according to their abilities.
IMFL bottles and polythene bags containing state liquor were found scattered around the location of the temple but the village was reported to have never faced police action.
“We ensure that there are no liquor sold or consumed in the village so that no one faces legal issues,” Bharwad explained.
The villagers ensure that liquor offered at the temple is not stolen or given to anyone.
“The stall on bottles is removed and the spirit evaporates,” he said.
Asked whether they had to face the police since transporting or having liquor was also a crime in the state, Bharwad ran, “What can they do in God’s matters?” Given an incident, Chauhan said, “About two years ago, the police team stormed the temple and one of the police broke bottle of liquor.
This is not no, according to local beliefs.
The next day, he met the accident where he was broken his hand.
Then , He came to the temple and offered a bottle of alcohol on the god as a sign of apologies.
“He added that the worshipers also offered snacks such as Chavanu (a mixture of local spicy snacks) and nuts to go along with alcohol.
A citizen of Mumbai who offered liquor in the temple, said on anonymous terms, “I heard about the temple from close relatives after my older son became an alcoholic.
I offered an IMF bottle last month and had waited to get profitable results.” Savita Halmatia, another village resident in Limbdi Taluka, said, “I offered a liquor to god because my husband was addicted to alcohol.
When my husband knew about it, he stopped drinking by fear of God’s anger.”
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