Unique tradition of Ranchhodji temple of Dakor, villagers looted the Prasad as soon as the doors opened.

Kheda, October 21 (IANS). Dakor, a famous pilgrimage center in the Kheda district of Gujarat, is famous for its unique Annakoot festival every year. Here, on the occasion of New Year, a large Annakut of 151 maunds ie more than 3,000 kg of different dishes is presented to Lord Ranchodji. This mahaprasad is later ‘spoilt’ by the invited villagers, a 250-year-old religious tradition. This year, Annakoot Utsav was celebrated on the second day of Diwali at the pilgrimage site of Dakor. Normally this festival takes place on the New Year’s Day, but this time the new year arrived the next day according to the constellation, hence Annakoot was celebrated on the same day. Under this unique tradition, the temple administration invites special people from around 80 nearby villages, who get the privilege of ‘looting’ the Annakoot. This year Annakoot included many types of dishes including boondi, rice, sweets, fruits. After offering Annakoot to Lord Ranchhodraiji, the doors of the temple were opened at 2.20 pm. As soon as the doors opened, the invited villagers ran towards Annakoot with shouts of ‘Jai Ranchod’. In just 10 minutes, the entire Mahaprasad was looted. During this period, the police made special strict arrangements to ensure that there was no stampede and no devotee was injured. Devotees believe that by consuming Annakoot Prasad, they remain healthy and disease free throughout the year. This unique festival of Annakoot attracts thousands of devotees every year, who not only experience the religious faith but also witness the wonderful spectacle of this great tradition. After looting the Annakoot, the villagers distribute the rice and other foods in their hands among themselves in the village. This tradition is not only a symbol of reverence but also sets an example of community harmony and brotherhood. –IANS PIM/ABM Share this story Tags