The Punjab government has a tricky issue on its hands withthe spikes in daily cases of Covid and deaths due to the same. The ChiefMinister Captain Amarinder Singh is working with the officials to handle theCorona situation. One measure to achieve the same is a restriction on thenumber of individuals in a public gathering.
A two-day annual fair of Baba Rode Shah shrine in Bhomavillage in Amritsar district attracts many devotees. The custom is to offerliquor, and the devotees offer and receive liquor as ‘prasad’.
A video from the shrine in whichdevotees are seen without facemasks and ignoring the social distancing rules toperform the customary ritual of the shrine. Women devotees are also seendancing outside the Dargah to the beat of dholaks.
History says that Baba Rode Shah, who hailed from Dhavaanvillahe of Gurdaspur district, left his family and settled in Bhoma village.According to legend, Baba Rode Shah possessed mystical powers.
For curing illnesses he would ask for liquor as offering. Hewould also offer liquor to his disciples and thus this tradition was born.
A two-day fair is now held every year at his Samadhi andthousands of devotees visit to pay their respects.