Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jul 26: Saturday July 26 happens to be Aati Amavasya (new moon day of Aati month), a sacred day for Tuluvas. Since times unknown, people living in Karnataka coast have come to believe that scraping the bark of a tree known in local parlance as 'Paale' tree (Satni Rooku in Konkani, Devil's or Spirit's Tree), and preparing a concoction by boiling the bark in water along with some additives like garlic, turns it into a magic potion that relieves one of impending diseases which might arise out of consuming different fruits, food items, vegetables etc during the rainy season, apart from sins.

Early in the day, elderly representatives of the family collect bark of the tree by visiting thickets or forests, make the concoction, consume it, have bath in temple ponds, and offer prayers at the temples. Narahari Parvata near B C Road, Karinjeshwara in Vogga, Bantwal, Kirimanjeshwar near Kundapur etc., are some of the temples visited by the devotees on this day, to pray to the divine for their health and secure future.

It is believed that this 'Kashaya' handles ill-affects of change in climatic conditions like rainy season and summer, innate fear of spirits, non-availability of normal food, and eating seasonal vegetables. After doing searches and researches, ancient doctors of native medicines reportedly found this magic potion, which is believed to act as antidote for all kinds of evils. Our ancestors however, put a condition that the medicinal values of this tree would be present only during the first three days of this month.

The drink is bitter as well as astringent. Garlic, pepper, cumin seeds etc are added to the 'Paale' bark when it is boiled in water. There are specific processes even for extracting Paale barks. The 'Kashaya' is customarily consumed before sunrise.