In many countries including India, there is a tradition of sprinkling alcohol before drinking it.
Before drinking alcohol, you must have seen someone sprinkling a few drops of it out of the glass with the help of fingers. Even today, in many parts of India, there is a practice of sprinkling liquor out of the glass before drinking it. Interestingly, this is not the case only in India. There are many stories related to alcohol in different civilizations and countries. Many interesting traditions are found. Now the question is why in many countries including India, drops of alcohol are sprinkled three times before drinking it.
The tradition of sprinkling the same drops before drinking alcohol is not limited to India only. This tradition is prevalent in many countries of the world. This tradition is called libation. Know why this is done and in how many countries this practice is prevalent.
How did the trend start?
The meaning of libation is explained in the Cambridge Dictionary. According to the dictionary, libation is the sprinkling or drinking of wine in honor of a deity or a deceased person. The idea behind this trend is to pray for the well-being of the family and surroundings by sprinkling alcohol.
Sprinkling alcohol before drinking it is called libation.
There is a tradition of offering liquor to Bhairavnath in India. According to TOI report, Bhairavnath was a disciple of Gorakhnath, whose guru was Matsyendranath. If we talk about mythology, he had the power to control all the Tantrik Siddhis. Sprinkling wine was considered a prayer that he would take care of the person’s mind, and protect him from bad things. In this way this trend became common. However, in different countries of the world, other reasons are also counted behind this.
The tradition of libation exists in other countries including India.
Its meaning in other countries of the world
This tradition is followed not only in India, but also in Egypt, Greece and Rome. While doing this, the souls of those who are no longer with them are remembered. Before drinking alcohol, he is remembered by sprinkling a few drops of it. It is also practiced in Cuba and Brazil and there it is called Para Los Santos. It means for the saints.
Whereas in the Philippines it is called Para sa Yawa. This means that part of the wine is dedicated to the devil. In this way, of course, some bottles of liquor are sprinkled, but at some places it is sprinkled for the saints, at some places it is sprinkled for the souls of one’s close ones and at some places it is sprinkled for the devil.
Claim to protect from evil eye
In many countries, there is a belief that if a few drops are sprinkled on the ground before drinking alcohol, then it will prevent the evil eye or negativity will never come near. When negativity is claimedIf you don’t come near then everything will be auspicious and good.
This trend is not limited to beliefs only. This trend continued in many families and was adopted by the next generations. In this way it continued from generation to generation. That means it became a habit or even a family tradition among people who drink alcohol in the family.
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