Sigdi Worship is a ritual conducted in rural parts of India. It is reminiscent of the numerous beliefs held by the people staying in a village. Sigdi worship is performed to fully cure a person afflicted with smallpox.
If a person suffers from the dreaded disease, the relatives vow to offer Sigdi worship on full recovery from the disease. Sigdi is actually an earthen vessel containing burning charcoal. During the ritual, this vessel is placed on the head of a married woman. With her hands tied in front, this woman leads a procession to a shrine dedicated to a goddess. The procession also includes women who carry brass pots filled with water on their head. The path to be followed by these persons is swept with branches of ‘neem’ tree (Azadirachta Indica), which is considered auspicious. If the person suffering from small pox is well enough, he/she also follows these people. On reaching the shrine, the woman carrying the sigdi is offered grains, which are placed on her lap. Following the rituals and the offerings made to the goddess, a goat is sacrificed. Prior to the sacrifice it is given a bath. If it shakes its body while water is being poured, the people believe that the goddess has chosen to accept their offering. On some occasions a clay horse is offered as a substitute for the goat.
