The divine smell: Mumbai temples now to adopt aromatherapy for the gods

The festive season means long queues outside temples and sanctums choc-a-bloc with devotees.

Though people coming in droves is not new for temple authorities, the premises do end up reeking of a strange, overpowering combination of body odour, flowers, sweets and coconut.

Taking stock of this peculiar problem, a few popular temples in Mumbai have come up with a fix.

Perhaps to protect the olfactory senses of priests and worshippers alike, Mahalakshmi temple, Siddhivinayak temple and Sai Baba temple in Shirdi have been ordering special signature oils to aromatise the area. Thank God for that.