Blind Faith

Nearly eleven years after Lord Ganesha sipped milk and sent millions across India into a frenzy, idols of Goddess Durga and Lord Siva began sipping milk in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday 20th August, creating mass hysteria in the entire town.

The news of the deities sipping milk in Bareilly emanated from a temple in the centre of the town on Sunday morning where a woman devotee offered milk to the idol and found the same disappearing from the bowl. By afternoon, news began pouring in that deities in other temples were also accepting milk and, within hours, people started queuing up to offer milk and watch the miracle.

Bareilly SSP Anand Swarup said that in view of the huge crowds that were turning up at the temples, the police had been deployed to maintain law and order in the town.

Shalini Saraswat, a house wife who visited a Siva temple in the afternoon, told that she had experienced the miracle herself. “This is God’s way of asserting his presence in our world. We are moving away from religion - that is why He asserts his power from time to time. Whether it is the sea water turning sweet in Mumbai or gods sipping milk - it is an assertion of the Almighty. I have seen the miracle myself and there is no reason for me not to believe it,” she said. It may be recalled that on September 21, 1995, Ganesha idols across the world had started sipping milk, sending Hindu devotees into a tizzy.

Hundreds of people began queuing up at temples in the capital, Delhi, following reports that the idols have began “drinking milk”. Long queues were reported outside temples in Mayur Vihar, East of Kailash and elsewhere in the city.

In Patna, the rumour that idols of Siva and Durga were “drinking milk” in a temple at Bhavar Pokhar area spread like fire. The phenomenon was reported from other temples also. A large number of women were seen queuing up before various temples in the city wearing yellow sarees.

However, scientists said the phenomenon that occurred was due to capillary action as the surface tension of milk pulled the liquid up and out of the spoon before gravity caused it to run down in front of the statue.