Snake around 'Shiv Linga' attracts crowd to makeshift temple

Varanasi, June 14 (UNI) The rare sight of a snake slithering around a 'Shiv linga' is attracting steady influx of the devout to a makeshift temple in Katesar village edging Ganga river here.

The Devout are performing all kinds of religious rituals to appease the 'snake god' which has strayed into the 50-year-old makeshift temple of 'Banahawa Bir Baba' in Ramnagar area.

''Devouts are flocking to appease the snake god who they believe is the symbol of Lord Shiv in an area mythologically believed to be the Kashi of seer Ved Vyas and Lord Vishnu,'' said Bache Lal Yadav (50), resident of the Yadav community dominated village.

Meanwhile, donations from people, eager to catch the rare 'darshan', have rekindled villagers' hope of a complete makeover of the makeshift temple, he added.

Bouts of Akhand Ramayan Path, Kirtan and Bhajan, besides special 'prasad' of spicy 'bati and chokha' await the devout at the temple.

A local youth Manoj Yadav claims the snake was spotted in the temple by five villagers when they went to offer 'gangajal' to the 'Shiv linga' after bathing in the sacred river early on Monday.

The news spread like wild fire and soon the temple, only frequented by residents of Katesar, turned into a religious hotspot for people from neighbouring villages as well as adjoining Chandauli district.

''Now people are coming in large numbers and wishing for their prosperity by offering milk and money to the light brown snake,'' Manoj added.

But an educated youth of the village Rahul Yadav has a different viewpoint. ''It is no religious miracle, but purely blind superstition. The snake has sneaked into the temple only to provide itself a cool shelter near the Shiv Linga and Hanuman idol.'' UNI