Debaddhani Festival is held at the
Kamakhya Temple in
Guwahati. It is dedicated to Goddess Manasa. This festival derives its name from the loud sounds that are produced by the various instruments played on this occasion.
Goddess Manasa is also called ‘visahari,’ the remover of poison. She is represented in a golden form riding on a serpent, covered with snakes all over her body and a hood of the serpent king hovering over her head. She is worshiped during times of diseases and epidemic. During the festival, offerings are made to her without any of her images being present.
The festival lasts for two to three days, during which songs related to a legendary merchant Chand Sagar is sung. Chand Sagar was an atheist. However, circumstances led to his worshipping the goddess.
Dancers, known as ‘deodha,’ perform on this festive occasion. These dancers dance in a possessed manner without any concern of the surroundings and perform dangerous acts like walking unaffected on sharp edged swords. They also predict the future.
