Fish, Meat & Alcohol As Prasad? Inside India’s Hindu Temples With Unusual Offerings

News india Fish, Meat & Alcohol As Prasad? Inside India’s Hindu Temples With Unusual Offerings

Last Updated:September 10, 2026, 17:21 IST

From fish and meat to alcohol, several Hindu temples across India follow diverse food and offering traditions rooted in centuries-old regional, Shakta, Tantric and folk practices.

The debate over food and faith has resurfaced in Bengal after Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, popularly known as Bageshwar Baba, appealed to Hindus not to sell non-vegetarian food near Durga idols during Navratri. But Hindu worship across India has never followed one particular tradition.

While temples normally offer vegetarian bhog, several Shakta, Tantric and folk traditions include fish, meat or even alcohol as offerings to deities. At many of these places, these offerings are also distributed as prasad. Here are some prominent examples. Let’s take a look:

1. Kamakhya Devi Temple (Assam)

At Kamakhya Temple in Assam, animal sacrifice is part of certain Shakta-Tantric rituals. Goats are among the animals traditionally offered during religious ceremonies. The tradition is linked to the temple’s Shakta-Tantric character, where the Goddess is worshipped in the form of a sacred yoni rather than a conventional idol. Animal sacrifice remains part of certain rituals.

Historical Significance: Kamakhya is one of India’s most important Shakti shrines and has a long association with Tantric worship. Its rituals reflect the diverse traditions that developed around Goddess worship in Assam and the wider region.

2. Tarapith Temple (West Bengal)

In Bengals’ Tarapith, fish and goat meat are traditionally offered to Goddess Tara. Certain Tantric rituals at the temple also involve alcohol.

Historical Significance: The temple’s food traditions also reflect the wider cultural practices of Bengal, where fish has traditionally been an important part of the local diet.

3. Kalighat Kali Temple (West Bengal)

In Kolkata’s Kalighat, animal sacrifice has historically been part of certain rituals. Goats are traditionally offered, and the meat from the sacrifice may be cooked and distributed.

Historical Significance: Kalighat is among the most important Shakti temples in Bengal and is closely associated with the worship of Goddess Kali. Animal sacrifice became part of the region’s Shakta traditions over centuries. At the same time, the temple also has vegetarian offerings, showing that different forms of food offerings can exist within the same religious institution.

4. Dakshineswar Kali Temple, West Bengal

At Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata, fish is traditionally included in the bhog offered to Goddess Bhavatarini, a form of Kali. Unlike some other Kali temples in Bengal, however, animal sacrifice is not performed at Dakshineswar.

Historical Significance: The temple was established in the 19th century by Rani Rashmoni and later became closely associated with the mystic Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. Its practices demonstrate the diversity even within Bengal’s Kali worship.

5. Vimala Temple, Puri, Odisha

At the Vimala Temple in Puri, fish and goat meat are offered to Goddess Vimala during specific rituals. These offerings are particularly associated with the period of Durga Puja.

Historical Significance: The Vimala shrine is significant because it represents a Shakta tradition within the larger Jagannath temple complex, which is strongly associated with Vaishnavism.

6. Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple, Kerala

At the Parassinikadavu Muthappan Temple in Kerala’s Kannur, devotees traditionally offer dried fish and toddy to Muthappan. These offerings are quite different from the vegetarian offerings commonly associated with many Hindu temples.

Historical Significance: The traditions of Muthappan are closely connected with the folk religious culture of northern Kerala and the Theyyam tradition. The use of dried fish and toddy reflects the close relationship between local customs, food habits and religious practices. The temple is also known for its relatively inclusive traditions and welcomes people from different communities.

7. Muniyandi Swami Temple, Tamil Nadu

At the Muniyandi Swami Temple in Vadakkampatti near Madurai, chicken and mutton biryani are prepared and distributed during the annual festival. Large quantities of the dish are cooked as part of the celebrations.

Historical Significance: Muniyandi is a Tamil folk deity, and the temple’s traditions are rooted in local village worship rather than the rituals of India’s major pan-Hindu temple traditions. The annual feast reflects the close connection between community celebrations, local food and folk religion.

8. Tarkulha Devi Temple, Uttar Pradesh

At Tarkulha Devi Temple near Gorakhpur, goats have traditionally been offered to the goddess during religious occasions, particularly during festivals. The meat from the sacrifice is associated with the temple’s prasad tradition.

Historical Significance: The temple’s traditions are linked to the worship of Tarkulha Devi and local legends surrounding freedom fighter Bandhu Singh. According to the tradition, Bandhu Singh worshipped the goddess and performed animal sacrifices.

9. Kaal Bhairav Temple, Ujjain

At the Kaal Bhairav Temple in Ujjain, liquor is traditionally offered to the deity. Devotees purchase the offering at the temple and present it to Kaal Bhairav as part of worship.

Historical Significance: Kaal Bhairav is a fierce manifestation of Shiva and has historically been associated with traditions that differ from conventional temple worship. The offering of alcohol is particularly linked to Bhairava worship and certain Tantric traditions.

10. Mahamaya Temple, Assam

At the Mahamaya Temple in Bogribari, Assam, animal sacrifice has been part of the temple’s traditions for centuries. Goats are among the animals offered during important religious occasions, including Durga Puja.

What About Ancient Hindu Traditions?

The practice of offering animals to deities is not something that appeared only in modern times. Ancient Vedic texts describe animal sacrifices as part of particular religious rituals. Goats, sheep, cattle and horses are among the animals mentioned in Vedic sacrificial traditions.

The Larger Picture

While the examples don’t establish that non-vegetarian offerings are a universal Hindu practice, it can easily be established that Hindu religious traditions have never been completely uniform.

About the Author

Anushka Vats

Anushka Vats is a Sub-Editor at News18.com with a passion for storytelling and a curiosity that extends beyond the newsroom. She covers both national and international news. For more stories, you can ...Read More

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