Superstitious villagers opt for witchdoctors in Uttarakhand

Kumardagga, a tribal village in Uttarakhand is well-known for the tantriks who cure diseases through magic combined with herbal extracts.

By Ashish Goel

Kumardagga (Uttarakhand), June 27: Kumardagga, a tribal village in Uttarakhand is well-known for the tantriks who cure diseases through 'magic' combined with herbal extracts.

The treatment, people believe, is highly effective in case of dog bites. The tribal families that inhabit the area believe that over 300 years ago a hermit visited Kumardagga. Pleased by the warm hospitality that he received in the village, he shared his tantric knowledge with some selected families there.

The families, who know the 'secrets' still practice the tantric medicine. Patients who come there are happy to undergo magic spells.

Surath Mahtha, a (Tantrik) sorcerer, claims: "Our family is rendering this treatment for generations. It was a boon given to us by Lord Shiva."

People come here from far off places for treatment.

Rampad Mahtha, a Tantrik, said: "When people come here for their treatment, we cast spells on them and give them some water to drink and they get well."The said 'treatment' is done thrice a week. First spell is cast on Friday, second on Saturday, and on Sunday, the patient is given some syrup to drink which tastes bitter.

The patient is then asked to abstain from taking sour food, non- vegetarian preparations, alcohol and brinjal. The latest prescription is that they should avoid loud music and should not watch television (visual entertainment) for twenty days.

So far none of the patients have asked the tantrics as how Lord Shiva thought of the television. It could be that Shiva's third eye told him about the evil effects of television!

ANI