Every few kilometres in India, culture shifts, and so does the set of beliefs. Bhog and Prasad are food items that are offered to Gods and served among worshippers after Pooja rituals. In popular temples, the daily amount of Prasad can go up to many thousand kilos. Prasad can comprise anything from fruits to sweets to poori and sabzi. It is a common notion that Prasad is supposed to be only vegetarian, but there are a few temples that are equally popular for their non-vegetarian prasads, which should not really come as a surprise if you are even remotely aware of the many Gods of Hinduism, and the local mythologies, folklore associated with them in different regions. When the eating habits of Indians can differ so widely within the Hindu community, the divine offerings and prasad can differ too, right?
Sit back, relax and read about the temples that are famous for their delicious non-veg prasads.
1. Vimala Temple, Orissa- Fish And Mutton
This tale, in which the goddess Vimala or Bimala (a Durga avatar) is served meat and fish during Durga Puja, is highly fascinating. One of the Shakti Pithas, this shrine is a part of the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri, Orissa. Fish from the holy Markanda temple tank is cooked and presented to Goddess Bimala during the Durga Puja festival. Additionally, a goat is sacrificed during these early dawn hours is cooked and presented to her. Then, people who witness the entire sacrificial procedures are given both of these foods as "Bimala Parusa" or prasad. It's interesting that all of this takes place before Lord Jagannath's temple's great doors are opened.
2. Muniyandi Swami Temple, Tamil Nadu- Chicken And Mutton Biryani
This temple, which is located in the small town of Vadakkampatti in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, holds a unique three-day annual celebration to honour Lord Muniyadi, also known as Muneeswarar, who is regarded as an avatar of Lord Shiva. People throng this temple in the morning time when they're serving Chicken & Mutton Biryani as prasad.
3. Parassinik Kadavu Temple, Kerala- Fish And Toddy
A temple dedicated to Lord Muthappan. In the south, he goes by numerous names and is highly revered. The majority of offerings include toddy and cremated fish, which are given to Lord Muthappan in the belief that doing so will grant their wishes. Additionally, this is distributed as prasad to the pilgrims that come to the shrine.
4. Tarkulha Devi Temple, Uttar Pradesh- Mutton Meat
This temple, which is located in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, draws a large crowd of visitors each year when the Khichari Mela is held there. The reputation of this shrine for granting wishes is pretty high. During Chaitra Navratri, people travel from all over the nation to this temple to pay a visit and present a goat to the goddess in exchange for their desire to be granted. The chefs then prepare this meat for serving to the devotees as prasad by cooking it in earthen pots or pans.
5. Tarapith Temple, West Bengal- Fish And Meat
When in Bengal, visit the Tarapith temple in Birbhum, which is well-known among followers of Durga. People make animal sacrifices, known as bhog, and offer them to the goddess alongside alcoholic beverages. The followers of the deity are then given portions of this bhog.
6. Dakshineswar Kali Temple, West Bengal- Fish
Another Shaktipeeth that is well-known among Goddess Durga worshipers is this one. The devotees who come to worship Goddess Kali are given fish as part of the bhog, which is offered to the goddess in this temple. However, this temple does not practise animal sacrifices.