Believe it or not, residents of Indore district’s Chirmolia village have a unique custom of offering watches at a temple existing under a giant banyan tree. The watches are tied to the branches of the tree.

Located deep inside a jungle near Afzal Marg, this five to six decades’ old temple devoted to a man known as Shagad Babu, is today visited by a large number of people for the fulfilment of their wishes. Whenever anyone’s wish gets fulfilled, a watch is tied to the branches of the banyan tree. It is done as a thanksgiving gesture to the sacred tree and the presiding deity of the temple.

Bagdi Rao, the village head of Chirmolia, said: "No one returns without his or her wish being fulfilled at this place. People offer watches and other things here after their wishes get fulfilled. Be it for a child, well-being, or just anything, people from all walks of life come here to pray." Visitors usually offer flowers, incense sticks, money and coconuts at this temple. But the watches are offered only after the fulfilment of one’s wish.

Kishore Dangi, one of the believers, said: "I wished for something here and my wish was fulfilled a few days back. So I have come here to offer a watch and thank God."

The origin of this practice of tying watches is unknown but the villagers have deep faith in the custom. Over the years, the number of believers visiting here has steadily increased. Local residents say that although there is no boundary wall or security man to guard the temple or the tree, there has not been any incident of watches getting stolen from the tree. The temple is taken care of by villagers as there is no priest at the temple. — ANI

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