Offer devotion not milk on the Almighty

Recognized as a land of tradition and culture, India and Indians are deep into worship and rituals to please the almighty. The practice of offering milk on Hindu deities in temples is a common practice but the sacred milk which is considered as holy ‘prasad’ often spills in drains rather than reaching the hungry stomachs of the poor begging in lanes outside the temples.

Whether it is the milk offered on Lord Giriraj at Jatipura in Mathura or in various small and big temples in the northern parts of India, it is often seen spilled in the narrow drains in the neighbourhood. 

However, it cannot be considered a norm as the popular Ram temple at Lodi Raod in Delhi gives a wonderful example of the judicious use of milk offered in the temples. Those willing to offer milk on the shivling donate a packet of milk in the temple instead of spilling it all over.

A magnificent example of the practice e is visible in several temples where the two hens are shot with a stone. Since the thousands of devotees are determined to offer milk on the deity, the temple administration invents a proper system to ensure proper and judicious use of the milk, keeping in mind the purity of the milk.

There is systematic passage for the flow of milk to a common collection pitcher where it is either distributed among the beggars; however, the shopkeepers also take this milk to churn out quick money by selling the same milk offered in the temples.

Taking a lesson from such temples, the practice must be applied in every place of worship observing such a practice. Also, the administration is required to take cognizance of the wastage of milk and ensure proper use of the same.