Courier services almost always charge you a sum for delivering goods. But here is a unique and indigenous courier service in India that relies, not on sophisticated delivery networks or money, but entirely on faith.
Situated amongst the thick Sal forests on NH 215, around 45 kms from Keonjhar in Ghatagaon,Odisha, is the Maa Tarini Temple. This temple receives close to twenty thousand coconuts every day, going up to a lakh on festive days. The temple is highly revered and the devotees of the Goddess Maa Tarini consider her to be all powerful. So how does a temple such as this manage to get its large number of coconuts on a daily basis?
As a devotee of the temple, here is what you could do. Stand on any highway in Odisha with your coconut offering, wrapped in a red cloth, and the next bus or truck that passes by would stop to pick it up and reach it to their destination- the Maa Tarini temple at Ghatagaon. And in case the driver isn’t headed towards Ghatagaon, all he does is pass it over to another who would be headed in the direction. It works similar to the passing of a baton in a relay race. The drivers finally drop them off at numerous collection boxes placed at Ghatagoan, from where the entire lot of coconuts are offered by the priest, to the Goddess Maa Tarini.
No driver would seek money for this service nor do they refuse. The belief is that those who refuse or fail to deliver the coconuts would have to face the wrath of the Goddess and would incur great misfortune in life. This voluntary service works seamlessly, free of cost, to ensure every coconut offered from across the state, reach the temple of Maa Tarini.
So, the next time you are travelling in Odisha, don’t be surprised to find a pile of coconuts stacked behind the driver’s seat!
Have you witnessed any such unique practice in a place of worship? Do share it with me.
This is a part of my journey exploring 26 lesser known shades of a country called India, with the #AtoZChallenge 2016!!!
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interesting. How far have you come with your book?
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that’s interesting
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Wow… and no, haven’t heard of anything similar to this elsewhere.
My entry for the #AtoZChallenge –
Tv Shows: C – Castle
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that’s beautiful supply chain system!
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Thats absolutely unique. We visited Orissa a while ago and I loved the peaceful serene countryside. I must try to remember if I saw coconuts wrapped in a red cloth in any of the vehicles!
@yenforblue from
Spice of Life!
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really? that’s amazing. thanks for sharing! loved the read.
Shubhangi @ The Little Princess
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Absolutely fascinating Ramya! Never heard this one! You have a knack for digging up treasures like this! Looking forward to D! Cheers
@KalaRavi16 from
Relax-N-Rave
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Things work on faith has more value than paid service. We wish the same faith spreads in a daily routine for everyone. Thank you for sharing this beautiful peace of information.
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Very interesting! Didn’t know of this practice. Thanks for sharing!
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Whoa! That’s interesting! Thanks for sharing. I never knew about this.
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Wow – I love this story.
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amazing this is, as they say “it happens only in India” for the good this time
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Good to know this ..
But I believe faith is one thing and
Superstition is another …
@dixita011 from
Cafenined words
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This is an interesting post on Maa Tarini Temple.
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This is so interesting and how wonderful. I only wish they’d do it without the fear of the goddess.
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Really? This is awesome! I wish we could scare some rapists and criminals with the goddess’s wrath…maybe they would think twice before doing something as heinous.
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wow now that’s something I have never heard of. Amazing!!
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This is really interesting! Faith can really work a lot of miracles, can’t it?
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Wow.. That was interesting to know. When it comes to holy things, people often are willing to do it voluntarily without expecting anything in return and that’s the faith that keeps them going
Cheers
Geets
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Woah! This was something unheard of before! And eating one of those coconuts is surely unthinkable, right?😛
– Chicky @ http://www.mysteriouskaddu.com
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Maa Tarini. A first on both counts Ramya. Tks for the info on the Goddess and the beautiful system of sending offerings to her
Jai Ho.
http://www.sunilavigauthor.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/chitragupt-for-c-heavenly-record-keeper.html
@whitefielder
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Interesting. God can really do miracles.
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Wow! This is soooo amazing! I will be on a lookout for coconuts with red cloth now whenever I visit this part of Orissa!
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Wow!! I’ve never heard of anything like this before
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Wow! that’s so unique and I have never heard of that. That’s faith. In Bangalore, there is a hanuman temple where people leave coconut for 15 days, follow a routine of worship and abstain from certain things. Guess what? Wishes get granted
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What??? Thats news to me.. I am from bangalore and have never heard of this.. Should visit this place next time around
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Next time when you are home, we can go together. I love that place.
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Absolutely fascinating. Thanks for all three posts so far — learning something about India from one who lives, explores, and considers there is a wonderful gift.
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This is really interesting I must say. A curious case of courier??
Nibha @ Expressions
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This is indeed an interesting thing. I’d never heard of this before. Thanks for sharing.
Reema D’souza from
Reem Writes…
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This is a good thing. Never heard about this before. Thank you for sharing
C- Can I?
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This is a really unique practice which I have never heard before!
But I guess the faith keeps it going!
Cheers,
Srivi
The Piscean Me | Twitter
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[…] Courier that Runs on Faith #AtoZChallenge […]
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