Youth jumps into boiling deg in dargah, dies

AJMER: Blind faith and superstition took the life of a devotee who jumped into a boiling deg (grain pot) in the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty on Monday.
A 17-year-old youth had jumped in the boiling grain pot. He sustained 90% burns and died on the spot. Police till Tuesday evening had not been able to identify the youth. The incident created sensation in the region after which the dargah committee had to put iron rods on the corners of the deg.
Sources said that yesterday night when food, meant to be distributed among the devotees, was being prepared, a youth came rushing and jumped into the pot. "It was boiling and the boy went straight down inside the pot," said a spectator.
Employees of the committee rushed to save the boy and took him out of the pot after a lot of effort. "He was not breathing and we took him to JLN hospital where he was declared brought dead as he was ninety percent burnt," said a source.
Several devotees believe that by jumping into the boiling pot they get salvation and bliss of the lord, who blesses them for their dedication by coming to save them.
Besides, there are even videos sold in the dargah market that narrate such stories in which a boy who fell from the hands of a moth in the boiling grain pot was rescued by the almighty. "This is ridiculous as Sufi Khwaja never gave such teachings," said Sayed Kutubdin Sakhi, a khadim.
Previously too, several incidents of devotees jumping in the boiling deg have been reported. About two years ago, two women jumped inside the boiling grain pot. Later, it was known that they had asked some wish and had jumped in the pot for its fulfilment.