GULBARGA: Custom and rituals are unique and enjoyable too. North Karnataka has unique practices when it comes to temple festivals.
Here, devotees worship the posterior of a goddess, offer Naivedyam of vegetarian and nonvegetarian food, sacrifice sheep and hens and donate footwear. This takes place in Gola village of Aland taluk, 30 km from Gulbarga, on the sixth day after Deepavali Amavasya.
The people worship the buttocks of Lakkamma Devi (Lakshmi Devi) every day in the temple of Gola village. Shankar Rao Malipatil, who plays a major role in the annual fair of the village deity, told Express that it is an honour for his family to bring Kalasha of the temple during Jatra (procession) every year. "Legend has it that a demon chased goddess Lakkamma Devi who fell facing the earth. Her body, except the buttocks disappeared. From then, the villagers started offering puja to the posterior," he added.
There is no sculpture in the temple, which is 600 years old. Gulbarga Gazetteer published by the state government has no mention of the temple and its rituals. Devotees have urged scholars to conduct research to throw light on the temple history.
The devotees who throng temple on the sixth day after Deepavali, carry Naivedyam in their hands and wait for hours in queue to offer it.
Hundreds of devotees purchase footwear especially, of small children, and tie it to a tree in front of the temple. The devotees believe that offering footwear to the goddess would give them relief from knee and foot pain.