Dhamtari: Nestled on the banks of Gangrel dam in Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district, Angarmoti temple is home to a bizarre tradition!
In an era of modern technologies, where the issue of fertility is dealt with advancements such as test-tube babies, IVF etc., women longing to have an offspring visit the temple only to have a group of 'Baiga' walk over them.
It is a belief that women, who go through that ordeal, are blessed with a child and hence, every year, the first Friday after Diwali, they undertake the trip to Angarmoti temple. The locals, including the doctors, reportedly advocate this particular belief.
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While, the rationalists have slammed the practice, which they said was a 'myth' and had no scientific basis, people still throng to the temple.
As per the villagers' accounts, before the construction of a dam; there was a village in the area with Maa Angarmoti as the presiding deity. After the dam was built, the land was submerged in water, hence they established a temple on the Mahanadi river bank.
However, there is no actual evidence regarding the establishment of the temple nor people know when was this tradition started.
As it is considered as an 'atrocity' against women, numerous attempts have been made to stop this tradition, but to no avail. A Human Right's team had visited the site and described the scene as 'inhumane' and 'against the laws'.
NOTE: ETV Bharat does not support any material that glorifies superstition and occultism in any manner. Readers are advised to not believe or emulate such activities.
