Jhapan festival of Bishnupur

One of the distinctive traditional festivals of Bishnupur in the Bankura district of West Bengal is Jhapan, a festival associated with the worship of Goddess Manasa, the serpent deity. Traditionally regarded in Bengal as the goddess of snakes, Manasa is also associated with protection from snakebites, fertility, rainfall and agricultural prosperity. Jhapan therefore reflects both the religious traditions surrounding Manasa worship and the agrarian culture of western Bengal.

Observed during the month of Shravan, the festival features prayers and songs in praise of Manasa as well as performances by traditional snake handlers. They display live snakes, including cobras and pythons, often carrying them in traditional bamboo baskets known as jhapis. The festival is particularly noted for its snake-handling demonstrations and attracts visitors to Bishnupur.

Jhapan has a long association with the cultural traditions of the former Malla kingdom of Mallabhum. Local tradition connects the festival with Bir Hambir, the celebrated Malla ruler of Bishnupur, although the precise historical origins of Jhapan are not firmly established. Some accounts instead trace its development to the patronage extended by the Malla royal family to traditional snake healers and practitioners.

The festival thus represents an important strand of Bengal's folk religious and cultural heritage, combining Manasa worship, traditional snake-handling practices and the agricultural traditions of the region.

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