A unique faith tradition Ccontinues at Kauke Kalan
A centuries-old faith tradition continues to draw devotees to Baba Rode Shah’s shrine in Kaunke Kalan, Jagraon, where people come to seek blessings and make wishes. What makes the annual gathering unusual is the tradition of offering liquor at the shrine after a wish is believed to be fulfilled.
The liquor offered by devotees is later collected and distributed among visitors as prasad. The practice is said by locals to be around 100 years old and remains a major feature of the annual fair.
Devotees arrive with liquor after wishes are fulfilled
According to local resident Harjinder Singh, people from nearby villages as well as distant areas visit the shrine with their wishes. NRI devotees are also said to visit the shrine.
Devotees who believe their wishes have been fulfilled return with liquor bottles — sometimes expensive brands — according to their means. The offering is traditionally made during the annual fair.
Bottles poured into large drums
One of the distinctive sights at the fair is devotees pouring the liquor they bring into large drums kept at the shrine.
Once one drum becomes full, another is placed for further offerings. Locals claim that thousands of bottles are brought during the three-day gathering.
The liquor collected from different devotees and brands is then mixed before being distributed as prasad.
Liquor distributed as prasad
The collected liquor is distributed among devotees at designated stalls. Visitors reportedly stand in queues to receive a small quantity as prasad.
Even some devotees who do not ordinarily drink alcohol are said to take a drop as part of the tradition.
Interestingly, locals also point out that Baba Rode Shah himself did not consume alcohol, adding another layer to the unusual history behind the practice.
How did the tradition begin?
According to local accounts, Baba Rode Shah stayed in the area and was once approached by a childless couple who sought his blessings for a child.
After their wish was fulfilled, the couple reportedly returned with a bottle of liquor as an offering. Since Baba Rode Shah did not drink, he is said to have opened the bottle and distributed it among people instead.
Locals believe that as more devotees began to associate fulfilled wishes with the shrine, the practice of bringing liquor as an offering gradually became an established tradition.
Three-day fair held in September
The annual fair is held every September. This year, the gathering took place from September 5 to 7, attracting devotees from surrounding villages and other parts of the region.
The shrine becomes particularly busy during the fair, with devotees arriving to offer liquor, seek blessings and participate in the traditional celebrations.
Why is the first day reserved for women?
Another unusual aspect of the fair is its division by gender.
According to locals, the first day is traditionally reserved for women and children, while men attend on the following two days.
The practice was reportedly introduced years ago as a way of managing the crowd and avoiding incidents involving intoxicated visitors. Locals say that since alcohol is consumed during the fair, the arrangement was intended to ensure that women could visit without facing harassment from intoxicated men.
Some women, however, continue to visit with their families on all three days.
More than a liquor offering
For devotees, locals say, the tradition is ultimately associated with faith, gratitude and fulfilled wishes rather than the value or brand of the offering. Whether the bottle is expensive or inexpensive, the sentiment behind the offering is considered more important.
The distinctive custom at Baba Rode Shah’s shrine continues to make the annual fair one of the more unusual religious gatherings in the Jagraon region, attracting thousands who come to preserve a tradition that locals say has continued for generations.