Evil dread

Lakhs armed with voodoo dolls get ready for annual black magic fest near Pune to root out good and bring in evil

Lakhs armed with voodoo dolls get ready for annual black magic fest near Pune to root out good and bring in evil

Gaily wrapped presents, a tree with a decoration or two, peace, love and joyu00a0-- the embodiment of Christmasu00a0-- that wraps itself around the country today, is missing in the lakhs who will congregate at a temple near Pune in a few days. They only want death and destruction.
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Rajiv Dhankawade (name changed), an engineer in an automobile ancillary unit in Pimpri-Chinchwad, will soon visit the Mandher Devi temple near Pune for his boss. "I want him to suffer and die a slow, painful death and this doll I'm carrying will do the trick," he says calmly.

It's a black cloth doll stuffed with sawdust, almost like a gingerbread man, with the face and vital organs marked in white. A few pins to the heart, brain, and vital organs, he says will do the job. Asked how he could believe in superstition, Rajiv explained, "When a feng shui expert tells educated people that keeping a laughing Buddha, a jade tree or a toad with a gold coin in its mouth can bring prosperity, they believe it because it's a foreign practice. But when people practice ancient Indian occult, they immediately dub it as superstitious." Rajiv says he will drive a nail through the heart of the voodoo doll and nail it to a particular tree near the temple in Satara district on a full moon night after cutting a goat or a chicken.u00a0

Nasty: Devotees believe they have to nail voodoo dolls to a tree near the Mandher Devi temple in Satara district on a full moon night after sacrificing a goat or a chicken. File pic

District authorities say they have stopped this evil practice since 2005, but sources say the black magic is alive and well.

For three days a year, from December 30 to January 1, lakhs of devotees come to the temple for a pilgrimage. While most come to pray for health, happiness and prosperity, there are as many who come here for black magic. Sources said it wasn't always a death wish, but more often just the desire to debilitate the victimu00a0-- painful disease, an accidentu00a0-- by jealous lovers, husbands seeking divorce, etc.

Advocate Milind Oak, a trustee of the temple, said, "All this superstitious mumbo-jumbo used to take place earli- er, but it is banned now. Some people do carry out these activities outside the temple area, as these beliefs are deep-rooted and can't be wiped out easily. But most others come here with pure faith, devotion and a positive mindset."

In Mumbai, thousands from all religions throng to the Mira Datar dargah at Reay Road for the healing process.

The faithful believe that the saint can cure them of illnesses, black magic and drive away demons that possess their bodies. The process of exorcising demons is performed at sunset every Thursday.

Act on it

Narendra Dabholkar, who heads the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samitim which is crusading against superstition, said, "These acts of piercing a doll representing the enemy whom they hope to harm through is known as Yatukriya. It is a sort of witchcraft. In reality, it's nothing but a superstition, which has no scientific base. Banning such practices is not sufficient. What is needed is a stringent law to curb such practices. We have been asking the government to enact laws to stop these practices, but it has not happened so far."

Bill-ing issues

The Eradication of Black Magic and Evil Practices Bill has not been made a law yet. The driving force behind the new law is believed to be the Andha Shraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, a group of rationalists who have been calling for the eradication of all non-scientific and illegal healing practices carried out in the guise of supernatural powers. The offences will attract six months to seven years in jail and Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 in fines.

Did You Know?

>>300 devotees who wanted to take part in the rituals and animal sacrifices died in a stampede at the temple in 2005u00a0
>>10,000 chickens and 5,000 goats were sacrificed here before the stampede. The authorities increased security to nab black magic practitioners

The Other Side

Special District Magistrate of Satara, Kumar Khaire, who is overseeing the arrangement of the Mandher Devi pilgrimage said, "We are not going to allow anyone to resort to this occult practice. We have also banned other practices like animal sacrifice in the vicinity of the temple, which was on in a big way earlier. Cops will be posted near the tree where people come to perform the ritual."

2 lakh
Number of devotees who visit the temple between Dec 30 and Jan 1