Gajoldoba, 19th August: The traditional ‘Ashtanag Bhela’ was floated in the Teesta River at Gajoldoba in Rajganj on Wednesday as part of the annual Manasa Puja. A seven-day fair is also being organised in the area to mark the occasion.
According to the puja committee, the tradition dates back to 2000, when a large number of snakes were reportedly spotted in the river bank areas of the Teesta in Gajoldoba following floods. Two people also reportedly died of snakebites that year.
Following the advice of a local priest, residents jointly performed Ashtanag Puja that year and floated eight symbolic unmarried girls on a banana tree raft into the Teesta River. Since then, the tradition of performing Manasa Puja and floating the ‘Ashtanag Bhela’ has continued every year.
A member of the puja committee said the annual puja and ‘Ashtanag Bhela’ are organised with the hope of protecting the area from snake-related incidents.
In the first year, local residents built a small wooden temple through their own efforts and performed Manasa Puja. The temple was later converted into a permanent structure, and the puja is now celebrated on a larger scale.
Thousands of people gather at Gajoldoba every year to attend the celebrations, and this year has been no exception.