While most people shudder at the thought of encountering a venomous snake, there is a unique festival in Jharkhand, India, where people not only interact with these reptiles but also handle them in daring ways. This tradition involves wrapping snakes around their necks and even allowing them to bite them, seemingly without any adverse effects. This is part of the Manasa Devi worship.
The festival, held in the Bundu sub-division of Ranchi district, celebrates the serpent goddess, Manasa Devi. This religious observance, which spans three days, is a stark contrast to other religious practices. The villagers engage in an unusual custom where they handle venomous snakes. The annual festival is centered around handling venomous snakes.
Local beliefs state that after agricultural tasks during the Rohini Nakshatra, villagers go into the forests to find and capture the venomous snakes. They keep these snakes in their homes for about a month, taking care of them. During the Manasa Puja, they hold the snakes, allowing them to bite them, believing that the goddess Manasa protects them.
According to the local beliefs, the goddess Manasa’s power makes the snakes harmless to the devotees. Consequently, the venom of these snakes does not affect them. After the Manasa Puja, the captured snakes are set free in the forest.
During the Manasa Puja, the devotees also pierce their bodies with iron rods, a sight that might shock onlookers. However, the devotees believe that they feel no pain due to the blessings of Manasa Devi. The villagers also believe that worshipping Manasa Devi removes snake-related problems. Those participating in the rituals are the only ones who handle the snakes while other people are there as spectators.