AKIPRESS.COM - While majority of Indian devotees offer flowers, sandal paste and fruits to invoke divine blessing, the 'Thekkan Palani' Balasubramania temple differs as chocolate bars are offered in the sanctum sanctorum, The Times of India said.

Chocolate bars of a leading brand are made as offering by devotees and they get them back as 'prasdam' after poojas (religious ritual performed by Hindus as an offering to various deities, distinguished persons, etc.).

According to temple authorities, people, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, come to the shrine with cartons of chocolates, seeking the blessings of Lord Muruga.

Naturally, children flock to the temple in large numbers, especially during the examination season.

No one knows for certain how or when the ritual of offering chocolate began. “The principal deity in the temple is 'Balamurugan', Lord Muruga as child. Somebody who thought that the child Muruga likes chocolate, might have begun the practice first,” temple manager said.

A large number of devotees, even those from other states and foreigners, visit the temple with boxes of chocolates.

The shrine, managed by a 21-member trust, was built by an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga as a family temple decades back. He was frequent pilgrim to the famous Muruga temple in Palani in Tamil Nadu.

The shrine was recently renovated to improve facilities in view of the rush of devotees, temple officials said.

Murugan or Kartikeya (also called Subramanya) is the son of the lord Shiva.