Manasa puja

Manasa Puja is a traditional Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Manasa, the serpent deity worshipped primarily in Bengal, Assam, and other parts of eastern India. She is revered as the goddess of snakes, fertility, and prosperity, and is believed to protect devotees from snake bites and other misfortunes.

The puja is usually observed during the monsoon season, especially in the months of July and August. Devotees offer prayers, milk, flowers, and incense to idols or images of the goddess. Folk songs, dances, and recitations of the Manasa Mangal—a collection of narratives celebrating the goddess’s deeds—are integral parts of the observance.

Manasa Puja is deeply rooted in rural traditions and often involves rituals performed at home or in temporary bamboo structures near water bodies. The festival underscores the blend of faith, folklore, and nature worship prevalent in the cultural practices of eastern India, and continues to be a vibrant part of local religious life.