If the boom time has come for the priests of different Shiva temple across the State, then it is no less a profitable month for the ganja peddlers during the ongoing Shrawan month.
Come the auspicious month, you shall find most of the ganja peddlers waiting for the occasion to make a fast buck. Shrawan month is when the Kawari Yatra begins and the Bol Bom devotees participating resort to smoking ganja as they think ganja is a Bhog of Lord Shiva.
Every year lakhs of Bol Bom devotees (Kawarias) in saffron robes, by taking water from different river ghats, walk barefooted to various Shiva temples to pour water on Shiva Lingas. It happens in almost all famous Siva temples in the State and the penance is observed to propitiate the Lord and get His blessing for fulfilling several wishes. During the journey, most Kawarias puff ganja for relaxation from a difficult trekking.
In Kendrapada, many cover more than 100-200 km on foot in two-three days for the purpose. Mostly they go to the Aradi Akhandalmani Temple, Lingaraj Temple at Bhubaneswar , Chandrashekhar temple at Kapilas and Lokanath temple at Puri.
“Puffing of ganja makes the rather arduous journey a bit easier. It gives a relief from physical strain and provides an impetus to walk fast and more,” said Kawaria of Bilamugubadi, Pradeep Thatoi.
According to a Bol Bom devotee, Manoj Behera, in order to cover a distance of 110 km in two days from Kendrapada to Lingaraj temple, one needs some sort of relaxation and rejuvenation. Each devotee therefore spends Rs 300-Rs 400 for ganja only to undertake the journey, he averred.
According to a ganja peddler of the township area, he is doing a good business for last 15 days as the Shrawan month has started. He is selling more than 7-8 kg ganja per day as the Kawarias have started their journey since Friday, he told.
Not wishing to be named, another ganja peddler said he is expecting to earn a profit of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh in the ongoing Shrawan month only by selling ganja.