Om Singh Rathore (also called Shri Om Banna and Bullet Baba[1]) is a folk deity, whose shrine and temple called Om Banna Dham is located in Pali district near Jodhpur, India, devoted to him and his motorcycle.[2] It is located 20 kilometres (12 mi) from Pali and 53 kilometres (33 mi) away from Jodphur on the Pali-Jodhpur highway, near Chotila village. The motorcycle is a 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet RNJ 7773.
| Om Banna | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Other names | Om Singh Rathore |
| Devanagari | ओम बन्ना |
| Abode | Chotila, Pali, Rajasthan |
| Symbol | Om |
| Mount | Bullet |
| Genealogy | |
| Born | 1964 Chotila, Pali, Rajasthan, India) |
| Died | 2 December 1988 |
| Parents | Jog Singh Rathore (father) |
| Spouse | Urmila Kanwar |
Hundreds of devotees turn up every day to pray for a safe journey.[3][4]
History
editOn 5 May 1988, Om Banna (formerly known as Om Singh Rathore; banna is an honorary word used for Rajput youth)[3] was travelling from the town of Bangdi near Sanderao of Pali, to Chotila, when he lost control of his motorcycle and hit a tree. He died on the spot whereas the motorcycle fell into a nearby ditch. The morning after the accident, local police took the motorcycle to a nearby police station. The next day it was reported to have mysteriously disappeared from the station and was found back at the site of the incident.[5] Police, once again, took the motorcycle, this time emptying its fuel tank and putting it under lock and key. Despite their efforts, the next morning it again disappeared and was found at the accident site. Legend says that the motorcycle kept returning to the same ditch. It thwarted every attempt by police to keep it at the local police station; the motorcycle always returned to the same spot before dawn.[6]
This came to be seen as a miracle by local population, and they began to worship the "Bullet Bike." News of the miracle motorcycle spread to nearby villages, and later they built a temple to worship it. This temple is known as "Bullet Baba's Temple." It is believed that Om Banna's spirit helps distressed travellers.
Worship
edit
Every day nearby villagers and travelers stop and pray to the bike and its late owner Om Singh Rathore. Those who pass by stop to bow their heads leave offerings in honour of the helpful spirit, and some drivers also offer small bottles of alcohol at the site.[7] It is said that a person who does not stop to pray at the shrine is in for a dangerous journey. Devotees also apply the 'tilak' mark and tie a red thread on the motorbike. Local people sing folk songs in the name of Om Banna. [8]
Offerings include incense sticks, flowers, coconut, liquor, red thread and sweets. An eternal flame is kept at the shrine.
References
edit- ^ Dishank Purohit (6 August 2015). "From Bullet Baba to Whiskey devi, 6 unusual temples in India". India Today. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
- ^ Sharma, Anil (September 2010). "Rev up those prayers at Bullet Banna's". Overseas Indian.
- ^ a b "A prayer for drunk rider, shrine for his bike". Indian Express. 25 October 2009.
- ^ "Bullet Baba's temple in Rajasthan". India Tribune.
- ^ "OM Bana's Bullet 350cc A Highway legend". DriveSpark. 3 September 2012.
- ^ "Interesting temples in India and their unsolved mysteries". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
- ^ "Bullet Baba's Temple in Jodhpur where People worship 350 cc Bullet". amazingindiablog.in. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- ^ "The legend of 'Bullet Baba', a motorcycle revered as saviour of troubled travellers". Deccan Chronicle. 16 August 2016.