Strange! ‘Chappals’ are offered to deity in this temple

It is common to find devotees offering flowers and fruits as Prasad in temples to appease the deities or after their wishes are fulfilled. It is also a common practice of devotees to keep their shoes and slippers outside before entering shrines. But today, we will take you to such a temple where devotees offer garlands of ‘chappal’ to the deity. It may sound strange, but it is true. 

There is a temple dedicated to Lakkamma Devi in Gola village of Aland tehsil, about 30 kilometers from Gulbarga district in Karnataka. After Deepavali, on the ‘Panchami’ tithi, a fair is held in Gola village. On this occasion, a large number of devotees visit the temple. 

Those who have wishes seek blessings of the deity, offer puja to her and tie ‘chappals’ to a tree on the temple premises. Upon, fulfillment of their wishes, they again visit the temple and tie garlands of ‘chappals’ to the deity. 

It is believed that the goddess comes out of the temple on the fair night, wearing ‘chappals’ tied to the tree, goes around and fulfills her devotees’ wishes. 

The villagers also believe that as they offer ‘chappals’ to the deity, she protects them from evil spirits and cures their leg and knee pains forever. Due to this belief, not only Hindus but also Muslims visit this temple. 

According to the villagers, the goddess was once moving on the hill when the deity of neighbouring Duttagaon village caught sight of her.  He then started chasing her. Going to save her from him, she buried her head in the ground. It is said that the idol of the deity is placed at the same place where she had buried her. Even today, people worship her back. 

Regarding the beginning of the tradition of offering ‘chappals’ to the deity, there is a legend. In earlier days, buffaloes used to be sacrificed at the shrine. Later, the government put a ban on it. This enraged the deity. To appease her, a saint sat in meditation. Thereafter, devotees started offering ‘chappals’ to the deity and thus the tradition came into being.