Bhilwara's 'Black Gold': Opium Cultivation Blends Faith and Hard Work

• Opium cultivation in Bhilwara district, known as "black gold," is at a crucial stage, deeply connected with religious faith and traditions.
• Farmers perform ritualistic worship of Naana Mata Ji before lancing the opium pods, believing it ensures a good harvest.
• Opium latex is collected before sunrise by farmers and their families, using special tools to lance the pods.
• Religious traditions, including establishing Naana Mata Ji on field boundaries, are integral to opium cultivation, passed down through generations.
• Opium is cultivated by 6758 licensed farmers in four tehsils of Bhilwara and two tehsils of Chittorgarh district.