By IANS
Ranchi : In Jharkhand the demon-slaying goddess Durga is worshipped as a tribal deity that protects devotees from snakes.
Known as the embodiment of feminine and creative energy, the goddess is venerated as Vishari Devi in the Navagarh village block of Dhanbad district, around 240 km from here. The goddess is worshipped for nine days during the Navratri festival which is on now.
The puja was started by the erstwhile rulers of Navagarh more than 100 years ago.
“A large number of people used to die of snakebites in the region every year. The puja was started to invoke goddess Durga to drive away snakes from the area,” said Sukhdeo Manjhi, a devotee.
The goddess is dressed in tribal attire and armed with bows and arrows.
“On the day of Vijay Dasami (the final day of the festival), prayers are first conducted by male members and then women are allowed to worship the goddess,” said Ganju Manjhi, a devotee.
Tribals do the manjhi dance to beats of the madar, a musical instrument.