The episode opens under a dramatic full moon, setting a somber tone. Inside a temple, a revered Swamiji addresses a gathered crowd of worried villagers. He declares that the temple and the entire village have become unholy and impure due to the accumulated sins of many. A woman, Nilambari (dressed in a red and cream saree), and a man, Bhairav (in a blue shirt), listen intently with expressions of concern. The Swamiji dramatically singles out Bhairav, mistaking him for a deceased man named Katrej, and questions why “Katrej” came to the temple to sacrifice his life, showing a flashback of a man (who looks like Bhairav) being engulfed in flames.
The Swamiji continues, blaming “Katrej” (Bhairav) for the village’s current inauspicious state. He proclaims that the only way to purify the temple and remove the curse is through a sacred ritual: a young, divinely blessed maiden named Beli must bring holy water in a Kalash from a sacred source and perform an Abhishek (ritual bathing) of the temple deity. Beli, it’s revealed, is chosen by the mother goddess herself for this task. Nilambari and Bhairav exchange shocked and concerned glances at this revelation.
Swamiji elaborates on the ritual: Beli must carry the Kalash, filled with cow’s milk and adorned with flowers, in a Shobha Yatra (procession) throughout the village. As she walks, the villagers are to perform Paad Pooja (washing her feet) and seek her blessings. Crucially, the Kalash must not touch the ground at any point, or the ritual will be defiled. Once the Kalash reaches the temple’s sanctum sanctorum, Beli will perform the Abhishek, cleansing the village of its impurities. Swamiji also vows to punish those responsible for Katrej’s death and warns that failure to follow these instructions will result in a devastating famine.
The scene shifts to Bhairav’s lavish home, where he confronts Maya (his wife/accomplice) and her female associate. He is agitated by the unfolding events, while Maya initially seems unconcerned. However, as Maya’s accomplice expresses fear about spirits and their powers, Maya reveals her understanding that Beli is the cause of this “storm” and that it won’t end easily. Her face briefly transforms into a demonic visage, visible only to her accomplice, hinting at her malevolent nature.
Bhairav outlines their counter-plan to Maya and her associate:
- Nilambari (referred to as “Maa” by Bhairav) must be prevented from performing Paad Pooja for Beli during the Shobha Yatra.
- The sacred Kalash must not reach the temple; it must be made to fall and touch the ground, thus defiling it and rendering the ritual void. This, they believe, will avert any divine retribution upon them.
Later that night, Bhairav and Maya meet a hooded man, paying him an advance to execute their plan. A villager with a prominent unibrow secretly observes this transaction. Maya coldly instructs the goon that the Kalash must be stopped at all costs, even if it means injury or death to someone.
The next morning, the Shobha Yatra begins. Beli, adorned like a goddess, carries the Kalash on her head, accompanied by Nilambari and the joyous villagers. Bhairav, now in a purple shirt, signals a bull handler. The handler provokes a bull by blindfolding it with a red cloth. As the procession nears Bhairav and Maya’s house and Nilambari prepares to perform Paad Pooja for Beli, Bhairav gives the final signal. The bull is unleashed and charges towards Beli.
In a shocking turn, Nilambari heroically shoves Beli out of the bull’s path, taking the full impact herself. Beli falls but miraculously manages to keep the Kalash balanced on her head, preventing it from touching the ground. Nilambari lies gravely injured, possibly dead. Bhairav and Maya are stunned, their plan having backfired catastrophically, victimizing Nilambari instead of Beli and failing to defile the Kalash.
Major Recap Points:
- The Sacred Ritual: Swamiji declares that the village is cursed and can only be purified if a divinely chosen girl, Beli, carries a sacred Kalash in a Shobha Yatra and performs an Abhishek of the temple deity, with the condition that the Kalash must not touch the ground.
- Sabotage and Unexpected Sacrifice: Maya and Bhairav plot to disrupt the ritual by using a provoked bull to make Beli drop the Kalash. However, Nilambari sacrifices herself by pushing Beli away, getting hit by the bull instead, while Beli manages to keep the Kalash from falling.
Plot Twists & Key Revelations:
- Mistaken Identity: Swamiji repeatedly addresses Bhairav as “Katrej,” a man who is already dead (seemingly by self-immolation), indicating a deeper mystery around Katrej’s death and Bhairav’s connection to it.
- Beli’s Divine Mandate: Beli is not just any girl but is considered divinely blessed and specifically chosen by the goddess for this critical purification ritual.
- Maya’s Ruthlessness: Maya’s willingness to cause harm or even death to ensure the Kalash doesn’t reach the temple highlights her extreme villainy. Her brief demonic transformation hints at possible supernatural evil.
- Nilambari’s Sacrifice: Despite her initial shock/displeasure when Beli was chosen, Nilambari’s maternal instinct (or perhaps a change of heart) leads her to save Beli, becoming the unintended victim of Maya and Bhairav’s plot.
- The Intact Kalash: Despite Beli falling, the sacred Kalash remains on her head, unbroken and undefiled, suggesting divine protection and the potential for the ritual to still succeed.
Predicted Outcomes (Next Episode/Arc):
- Nilambari’s Fate: The immediate aftermath will focus on whether Nilambari survives the bull attack. If she dies, it will profoundly impact Muttuthu (her son), Beli (whom she saved), and potentially expose Maya and Bhairav if their guilt comes to light. If she survives, she might reveal her suspicions about the “accident.”
- Investigation into the Attack: The deliberate nature of the bull attack might be questioned by Swamiji or other villagers. The eavesdropping villager could become a key witness, potentially exposing Bhairav and Maya’s conspiracy with the goon and the bull handler.
- Beli’s Resolve: Witnessing Nilambari’s sacrifice might strengthen Beli’s resolve to complete the ritual, seeing it as even more critical now. The fact that the Kalash remained intact will be seen as a divine sign.
- Maya and Bhairav’s Panic: Their plan has gone horribly wrong. They will likely try to cover their tracks or devise a new, perhaps more desperate, plan to stop Beli, especially since the Kalash was not defiled. Their shock at Nilambari being hit might lead to internal conflict or a shift in their tactics.
- Swamiji’s Interpretation and Next Steps: Swamiji will interpret these events. He might see Nilambari’s sacrifice as a divine test or a sign of the evil forces at play. He will likely urge Beli to continue the ritual with heightened vigilance and may become more suspicious of Bhairav.