India’s Motorcycle God attracts tons tourists!!
Some say that God is a formless, omnipresent entity that resides in every corner of this universe. Taking this belief to heart, the people of Ropar district Rajasthan offer their prayers and tributes to a 350cc Bullet motorcycle and has made a temple. Yes, you heard it right!
This Bullet Baba shrine is a major tourist draw in order to pay respect to a 350cc Bullet motorcycle, praying for a safe journey. Numerous believers from the near and far throng to NH 50, some 50km-odd from Jodhpur to pray for a safe journey because “Bullet Baba” is believed to be the guarding angel of travellers who ensures their safe journeys. But what would you offer a mechanical deity as a prayer offering? Petrol, maybe…but ironically enough, people sprinkle bullet Baba with alcohol, which also is one of the foremost reasons for road accidents.
Residents of Chotila village have built a small temple for the motorbike and his dead owner, Om Singh Rathore, also known as Om Banna or Bullet Baba, on National Highway 65 in Pali, Rajasthan The shrine has a Royal Enfield 350cc bullet enclosed in a glass box with a photo of Om Banna, who died in a road accident around 24 years ago in that same spot.
WHO IS BULLET BABA?
Om Banna, son of a village leader, brought the bullet immediately after he got married and his love towards the bike was something out of explain.No sooner a tragic accident took place on On 2nd Dec 1988, Om Banna was travelling from the town known as Bangdi near Sanderao of Pali to Chotila, when he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a tree: Om Banna was killed instantly, his motorcycle falling into a nearby ditch. The morning after the accident, local police took the motorcycle to a nearby police station. However, it was reported that the next day the bike got disappeared from the Police Station and was found back at the site of the accident.
Police, once again, took the motorcycle, this time emptying its fuel tank and putting it under lock and chain to prevent its removal. Despite their efforts, the next morning it again disappeared and was found at the accident site. Legend states 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 was always returned to the same spot before dawn.
This came to be seen as a miracle by the 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. The temple includes a tree ornamented with offerings of bangles, scarves and rope. The temple besides the Enfield motorbike has a large picture of Singh. For the past twenty years, Poonam Giri has maintained the temple and acted as a priest.
