look news india
Why do people drop alcohol on ground: At one time or the other, we all must have seen someone around us sprinkling a few drops of wine on the ground or in the air as soon as they hold a glass of wine. This scene is very common in almost every part of India. Often people ignore it considering it just a habit or a joke, but you will be surprised to know that this is not a simple trick but a global tradition, which is being followed in many countries of the world for centuries. In the language of history and historians, this ritual is called “Libation”. Let us know how this unique custom started and what religious, spiritual and social beliefs are hidden behind it.
What is ‘Libation’ and its spiritual significance?
The simple and straightforward meaning of the English word ‘Libation’ is to offer a few drops of any liquid (especially wine or water) with reverence in honor of some deity, nature or the spirits of one’s ancestors. According to ancient beliefs, before drinking wine, a small quantity of it is dedicated to invisible powers or spirits. It is considered a symbolic medium to establish communication between humans and divine powers and to express gratitude towards them.
The roots of this tradition are associated with Lord Bhairav Nath in India.
The history of this custom related to alcohol in Indian society and culture is very old and deep. In Sanatan tradition and Tantric practices, it is directly related to the deity ‘Bhairav Nath’ who is considered to be the fierce form of Lord Shiva. According to religious beliefs, Baba Bhairav Nath is very fond of liquor and to keep him happy, liquor is offered in his honour. Even today, there is an unbroken tradition of offering liquor to God in many famous Bhairav temples of the country including North India. With time, common people made this religious ritual a part of their social life. People started sprinkling a few drops of liquor on the ground with the unwavering belief that by doing so, all kinds of ill-effects, negative energy and the shadow of evil powers would stay away from them forever.
This ritual is performed under different names in countries around the world.
It would be absolutely wrong to think that the custom of dropping drops of liquor on the ground is limited only to India. Exploring the ancient history of the world, we find that even in the great civilizations of Egypt, Greece and ancient Rome, people used to offer the first part of their wine on the ground to give peace to the gods and the souls of their dead loved ones. Even in today’s modern times, this ritual is alive in many continents:
-
Cuba and Brazil: Even today in these countries, a few drops are dropped before drinking alcohol, which is called ‘Para los Santos’ i.e. “offering to the saints” in the local language.
-
Philippines: Here this ritual is known as ‘Para sa Yawa’, which simply means “for the devil”. The people there believe that by doing this the evil powers remain calm and do not cause any harm to the person drinking alcohol.
This special custom became a habit from generation to generation
What initially started purely out of religious faith and fear, gradually transformed into a social habit by being transferred from one generation to the next. In today’s time, many people, even without any religious thinking, just by looking at their elders or sitting in a gathering with friends, drop three drops of liquor with light hands. This has become such a family and social tradition that people have been following it without even thinking, considering it as an auspicious omen.
Whether you consider it as a deep reverence for a deity, respect for ancestors or a human effort to avoid some unknown untoward incident, this small custom definitely makes us realize that behind human behavior and every small action, there is a beautiful centuries-old cultural story and deep emotion hidden behind it.