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Mansa Puja in Purulia, West Bengal, is a traditional festival dedicated to Mansa Devi, the serpent goddess worshiped primarily by rural communities for protection against snakebites and to seek blessings for prosperity. Celebrated during the monsoon season, typically in the Bengali month of Shravan- Bhadra (July-August), this festival holds deep cultural and religious significance in the region.
As the puja approaches, clay artisans are busy decorating the idols with the magic of colors and brushes. Although this puja has been celebrated in Purulia since ancient times, the scale of the celebration in Jhalda has grown over the years. In Purulia, Mansa Puja is marked by fervent rituals, vibrant folk performances, and community gatherings. Devotees offer flowers, milk, and traditional sweets to the deity, with some households also making clay or brass idols of Mansa Devi.
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The unique aspect of this worship is that the devotees express their devotion to the deity through self-flagellation. Villagers who participate in this ritual also offer sacrifices of goats and hens to the goddess. The immersion ritual of the Mansa goddess here is very unique, attracting villagers from far and wide.
According to the tradition, the devotees lie down on the ground along the path to the immersion site, while the chief devotee, carrying the goddess’s pot on their head, walks over them to complete the immersion. The festival also serves as a time for social bonding, as families and communities come together to participate in the rituals. Through this festival, the people of Purulia express their reverence for the goddess, hoping for her blessings to ensure a safe and prosperous year ahead.
