SURAT: Enter this stepwell on Ved Road and a strong smell of alcohol wafts through the air. Walk further down and you will be surprised to find bottles of whisky, some even

, placed before an

idol

of

in the 500-year-old temple here.

Surprising as it may seem, but offering whisky as prasad to this goddess has been a tradition followed by Khatri, Gola and Ghanchi communities living in Surat for centuries now.

“She is our community goddess. Baby showers of all pregnant women from our faith are held here in the seventh month of first pregnancy. In the past seven years, three of my daughters have had their baby showers held here,” says Usha Vakharia

(64).

Vakharia said the fatherto-be has to arrange a sealed bottle of whisky which is first offered to the goddess. The woman priest opens the bottle, sprinkles few drops on the deity and the alcohol is returned to the worshipper, including to the to-be mother, as prasad.

For teetotallers, the prasad is a perfunctory drop of alcohol on the tip of their tongue, while those who consume alcohol are provided in glasses and water.

“We also take undhiyu, puri, mango ras, khaman etc sometimes and treat all the relatives who attend the ceremony. Since the goddess rides a rooster, we abstain from consuming chicken, although the non-vegetarians eat meat at home,” adds Vakharia, whose family has been following this tradition for generations now.

Mohan Gharia , a member of the temple trust, said, “Only female priests handle all the ceremonies related to the baby shower. It is believed that this pleases the goddess, whose blessings are sought for the protection of the foetus.”

This unusual tradition

is well-documented in the history books too. “Communities that were considered liberal in their thinking did not consider alcohol consumption blasphemous,” observes Douglas E Haynes, who penned the public culture of Surat during colonial rule worship of Moti Bahucharaji.

While Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) is mostly offered, the visiting relatives from Singapore and Malaysia bring down some high-end whiskies.

It’s a tradition passed on through several generations

Roshni Kapadia (28) says, “Last week, we took along a red ‘chundadi’ (scarf), coconut, fresh flowers, rice,sweets and fruits along with a whisky bottle for my baby shower. This family custom is followed by my mother-in-law who embraced it from her in-laws. This tradition is passed through generations,”

Lalita Rathod, caretaker of Moti Bahucharaji for the past 25 years, explains, “There are special fairs held during aatham twice a year, and on all days leading to Diwali, people pray here in large numbers. Around the year, the baby showers are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.”

Deputy commissioner of police, zone II, B R Pandor said, “I am not aware of any such practice on Ved Road. We will get it checked if it is temple,” said B R Pandor.

Police station officer of Katargam police station Bhupendra Gulabbhai said, “The area police station does not have any records whatsoever regarding the same.”