Published 15:27 IST, October 20th 2019
Jharkhand: Snake charmers observe unique ritual, get bitten by snakes
In a bizarre tradition, snake charmers in Jamshedpur district get themselves bitten by the serpent with a belief that it will immune them from its venom
In a bizarre tradition, snake charmers in a village in Jamshedpur district get themselves bitten by the serpent with a belief that it will immune them from its venom. These residents of Shankarda village, located 50 kilometres from Jamshedpur have been performing this ritual to please Goddess Manasa Devi whom they believe to be the Goddess of snakes.
Claiming it to be a 100-year old 'cure ritual' dedicated to serpent divinity and traditional methods, a large number of tribals take part in the ritual. Over the generations, this tribe has thrived on catching venomous snakes and displaying them for a living.
"Every year, we worship Manasa Devi who is considered as Goddess of snakes. This pooja is being performed for the last 100 years. Snake charmers sit on a chariot and perform the pooja to please the Goddess. People wish also fulfilled during this pooja," Karunamay Mandal, a local said.
In this ritual observed once in a year, snake charmers ride on a chariot where snakes bit them. Locals believe that venom will have no impact on snake charmers during the pooja if they are on the chariot.
Garba with snakes
Earlier, two women and a girl were held along with two others after a video showed them performing Garba dance with snakes in their hands in the Junagadh district of Gujarat, a forest department official said on October 12. All of them were booked under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and held on Thursday, the official said.
"The video that has gone viral on social media shows the two women and the girl holding a cobra and two non- venomous snakes while performing traditional Garba dance during the recently-concluded Navratri festival," Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junagadh, Sunil Berwal, said.
The event was held on October 6 at Shil village in Junagadh district, he said, "After the video was brought to our notice, we probed the incident. We booked five persons, including two women and a girl. The other two are organiser of the event and supplier of snakes."
(with ANI inputs)
Updated 15:54 IST, October 20th 2019