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AN ALCOHOL BAN imposed in the Indian state of Bihar was supposed to clean up public life.
But it has had the unintended effect of deterring worshippers from temples, where liquor is the traditional offering.
Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar this week fulfilled an election pledge to introduce prohibition – a move popular among women voters in the poverty-stricken eastern state who were sick of seeing the family income blown on booze.
But it has proved less popular in the state’s many Hindu temples, which have suffered a sharp drop in worshipper numbers after alcohol shops were forced to shut.
Anant Marathe, a priest in Gaya district’s Bhairav Sthan temple, said the number of visitors had fallen by around 70%.
“As the tradition goes, the devotees offer alcohol to the deity,” he told AFP by phone.
“They pour some of it on the idol and take the rest of it home or distribute it among other devotees.”
Offerings are often given on special occasions such as marriages or religious festivals, although some particularly devout worshippers give them on a daily basis.
“I haven’t visited the temple this week because I can’t get liquor to offer,” devotee Promodh Kumar told AFP, calling on the government to relax the ban to allow alcohol to be bought for religious purposes.
But Satyendra Kumar Sinha, an excise officer, said the government had no plans to make any such concessions.
“We will not allow liquor sales or consumption for any purpose. The devotees can offer anything except the banned item,” Sinha told AFP.
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RIP poor Lady, the warning should be red warning alert NOT orange!
@Sean Murphy: It clearly is BAD enough for a red warning alert hence a death ,trees down power outages etc,takes alot of strong BAD wind to blow away a caravan however it’s NOT the time to be commenting on that poor lady as she is dead so have some RESPECT SEAN
@Jan O’Sullivan: but didnt lots of people yesterday give out about sensationalism by the media on weather warnings yesterday.hope they feel foolish today.
Would all weather warning smart ass whingers please give over. You know who you are and you all post the same pathetic jokes and moans every time a weather warning is issued and reported on. Do you all get it now? Do you understand why?
“First storm of the winter season”… September is winter now?
@Ciaran Maher: it is in Ireland. 6 months of this stuff, rain, floods, freeze and snow is what I’m predicting!
Only went live when it hit Dublin.
@BLACKBERRY: really?? Living in Dublin and it’s like this since about 7 30 am. This starts at 10 . Get a grip will ya
@BLACKBERRY: grow up
Wicklow should be in the orange weather warning as well. There are trees falling down here in Bray
One man lost his life down in slieve gullion forest park after a tree fell on him…Rest In Peace.
The whole of Shankhill has lost power apparently, have to work from home…lots of traffic lights out. Be careful people
Tree down in the lane between Ongar and Clonsilla. Fire brigade present.
When are the shops I have 2 work later!
have your say