In a remarkable cultural practice, the people of Jharkhand, India, hold a festival where they interact with venomous snakes in a way that seems to defy logic. Rather than fearing the snakes, they handle them directly, even placing them around their necks and allowing them to bite, all without suffering any harm. This event is tied to the worship of Manasa Devi, the serpent goddess.
This tradition, rooted in the Bundu region of Ranchi, is a unique aspect of the Manasa Devi worship. The festival, lasting three days, stands apart from conventional religious ceremonies. During the festival, villagers find venomous snakes, and then care for them for about a month in their homes. During Manasa Puja, they take these snakes and let them bite themselves.
Local folklore explains that after the completion of agricultural activities during the Rohini Nakshatra, villagers go into the forest to find snakes. They then capture and care for the snakes for approximately a month. During the Manasa Puja, they allow the snakes to bite them.
It is believed that due to the blessings of Manasa Devi, the snakes become harmless to the devotees. Therefore, the snake’s venom doesn’t affect them. After the Manasa Puja, the captured snakes are released back into the forest.
Aside from interacting with the snakes, villagers also pierce their bodies with iron rods during the Manasa Puja. Despite this, the devotees believe that they do not experience any pain, due to the grace of the goddess. The villagers believe that worshiping Manasa Devi helps to protect against snake-related issues. It is only those who are taking part in the rituals who handle the snakes, with the other people watching as spectators.