The menace of drug addiction is increasing continuously in the village Dhani of Rajasthan. On the occasion of someone's death or happiness in the village, bidi, cigarette and other tobacco products are served but in the village Sarana in Kekri tehsil of Ajmer district, it is said that people have not been using bidi, cigarette and tobacco for many years. Many generations are away from this intoxicating material and are becoming an example for the general public as well as other villages.
Community stays away from any addiction
In Sarana village of Sarwad subdivision of Ajmer district, there is a belief for 10 generations that no person of Bhichar Jat community touches bidi, cigarette, gutkha, zarda or hookah. This tradition which has been going on for the last 500 years is still prevalent today. There are about 125 houses of Bhichar gotra Jat community in Sarana village. In this village, there is a strong belief of Kela Devi Sati Mata, due to which any person of Bhichar Jat community stays miles away from addiction.
Know the story behind this
In 1600 AD, Kaila Devi from Bhichar family had committed Sati in Dudhla village in Baneda tehsil of Bhilwara district. Since then, Sati Mata has been very popular. While committing Sati, Kaila Devi told the people of Bhichar gotra that from today onwards, no one will use bidi, cigarette, tobacco, gutkha, zarda. Whoever follows this rule will be blessed and whoever breaks the rule will have to face the wrath of Mataji. She inspired the people of Bhichar gotra to give up bidi, cigarette, tobacco, gutkha, zarda and took a positive initiative. People are still following that initiative. Even the elderly, young men, children of the village abstain from all tobacco products.
Villagers do not smoke in Sarana
On one hand, in Rajasthan, the elderly are seen sitting in the village square smoking hookah or blowing rings of bidi cigarettes, this addiction has also become very common among the young men and women. The situation is such that to stay away from addiction, awareness is spread by celebrating International Anti-Drug Day and its evils are enumerated. But this is not the case in Sarana village. Due to the tradition that has been going on for years, the villagers do not smoke even today. To maintain the tradition, the villagers always keep explaining to the youth.
Sticking to tradition
Rajveer Bhichar told that the people of Bhichar gotra still follow their tradition and do not smoke. They have not smoked since the day Kaila Devi Mata became Sati. Bhichar told that this tradition is being followed by the grace of Mata Kaila Devi. The guests who come to our house do not eat bidi, cigarette, gutkha, zarda or pan masala. If someone smokes bidi by mistake and touches the pot or utensils, then the pot and utensils are purified and that place is sanctified with cow dung.
If any unknown guest who is not aware of the tradition here accidentally puts a bidi in the burning stove, then that stove is removed immediately and the stove is lit only after purifying the place with cow dung. In Sarana Bhichar Mohalla, bidi, cigarette, tobacco, gutkha, zarda are completely prohibited. It is the curse of Sati due to which people avoid smoking. There is not a single grocery shop in this locality and no one runs a shop selling bidi, cigarette, zarda, gutkha.
Community does not allow smoking in vehicles
People of Bhichar community do not allow smoking in their vehicles. If someone wants to smoke, he has to get down from the vehicle and smoke. After that, he is allowed to sit in the vehicle only after washing hands and feet with soap. According to tradition, if a person violates the rules by mistake, he has to bear heavy losses due to which people have a strong fear of Sati Mata.
People have fear of Sati Mata
A young man from Sarana drives a truck. The owner filled his truck with zarda and pan masala and sent it off without the driver knowing about it.When the truck driver came at Sarana crossroads, all the four tyres of the truck burst and there was a huge loss. In this way, Sati Mata gives the pamphlet on hand. People of Bhichar gotra go to Sati Mata once a year on Ujali Teras and worship her.
Sarpanch Neelu Duniwal said that the initiative which the government and social organizations are taking today was started by Sati Mata years ago which was accepted by all and the good thing is that even today people are following that initiative. The sarpanch told that people of Bhichar community do not smoke and to teach a lesson to the smokers, they are allowed to enter the temple only after making them wash their hands and face.