Article: Unholy smoke.

A growing band of "miracle workers" bring hope and entertainment to millions of ordinary Indians. But, as Tahir Shah explains, all is not quite what it seems

A century ago the American Wild West was chock-a-block with snakeoil salesmen, self-styled "healers" who peddled curious lotions and wondrous potions for everything from footrot to horse colic. In modern day India, trade is flourishing for a new breed of healers, known as "godmen" -- a term which can include avatars, sadhus and swamis. Like the snakeoil salesmen before them, the godmen put on a show that is charged with razzmatazz.

At the far end of a dusty village in West Bengal, 300 people form a ...

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