The sight of a venomous snake typically evokes fear and revulsion. However, in a unique tradition in the state of Jharkhand, India, people participate in a festival where they handle venomous snakes, even draping them around their necks, without being harmed. This custom, practiced for centuries, is a part of the Manasa Devi worship, where devotees seek blessings from the serpent goddess.
This three-day religious event distinguishes itself from typical deity worship. During the festival, villagers collect venomous snakes, keep them in their homes for about a month, and care for them. During the Manasa Puja, they handle these snakes, even allowing them to bite them, believing that the goddess’s power protects them from the venom.
According to local beliefs, after the agricultural activities conclude during the Rohini Nakshatra, villagers venture into the forest to find venomous snakes. They capture the snakes and bring them home, taking care of them for a month. During the Manasa Puja, they handle the snakes, letting them bite them, believing that the goddess’s powers prevent the venom from affecting them.
It is believed that due to the blessings of Manasa Devi, the snakes become harmless to the devotees. They claim that even when bitten by these snakes, the venom has no effect. After the puja, the captured snakes are released back into the forest.
Besides handling snakes, participants also pierce their bodies with iron rods during the Manasa Puja. Despite the potential for pain, the devotees believe that, due to the goddess’s grace, they feel no pain. Villagers believe that worshiping Manasa Devi removes snake-related afflictions, and only those who participate in the rituals are allowed to interact with the snakes, while others observe.