Devotees offer cigarettes, alcoholic drinks to Lord Muneshwara in Karnataka

Heard anywhere of offering wine and cigarettes to god. It happens only in India.
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Offering flowers, sweets and fruits to god has been a part of age-old tradition in Hinduism but in Karwar district of Karnataka, devotees offer alcohol and cigarettes to Lord Muneshwara.

Sources of devotees from all over the country including Maharashtra and Goa visit this temple to get their wishes fulfilled by offering cigarettes and alcohol. According to Anand Raj Naik, a priest of Muneshwara temple, alcohol and cigarettes were liked by Him. Hence, it is been made a ritual here to offer as a religious offering to please and seek His blessings.

"People pray to Lord Muneshwara for fulfilment of their wishes and once their wish is fulfilled, they come here to offer cigarette, non-vegetarian food and wine. These things were his favourite when He was alive. Hence we are still following this ritual to please him," said Naik.

Every March, a fair is organized near the temple, where scores of devotees come to offer alcohol, goat and chicken.

"Lord Muneshwara has fulfilled all our wishes, even if somebody is sick in our family, I believe that lord will cure him. In return, we come here to offer him cigarette and wine," said Kiran Venkatraman, a devotee.

It is believed that lord Muneshwara also called "Khapri" by locals, came to Karwar 300 years ago and took to renunciation.

He then served the poor and the needy. After his death, a temple was constructed at a place called Karwar.

Source: www.dailyindia.com, March 21 2010