Pray and sweep: Why this century-old temple in UP has lots of brooms

In this century-old Pataleshwar temple in the small village of Sadatbadi, in U.P.'s Sambhal, devotees offer Lord Shiva something rather unusual, that is, brooms. On the occasion of Mahashivratri, devotees thronged the temple to offer brooms. The offerings are thought to keep skin ailments away throughout the year. Brooms offered to the God are always in circulation. Once offered, these brooms are sold by the temple authorities to the shopkeepers sitting outside the complex, from where they are bought again by devotees and offered to the deity. This temple attracts attention not only for its unique offering but also for the peculiar belief attached to it. People say that offering brooms will ease suffering.