By TC News Desk
Agartala, Aug 17: With the observance of Manasa puja across the state of Tripura, festival season begins in the state. Wednesday, with pomp and show Manasa puja has been observed in various parts of the state.
At Agartala’s famous Durga Bari temple, the Manasa puja was held with full devotion complying with all the rituals and traditions.Devotees thronged to the temple premises to offer prayers to the deity.Moreover, in numerous households across the state, Manasa goddess was offered prayers.Mansa Devi, is a Hindu folk goddess of snakes, worshipped also known as Nag Panchami, is observed mainly in Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam and parts of Orissa on various days in the Bengali months of Ashar, Shraban and Bhadrapad (June – September).
Mansa Devi is the serpent goddess and is believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva.Her myths emphasize her bad temper and unhappiness, due to rejection by her father Shiva and her husband, and the hatred of her stepmother, Chandi (Shiva’s wife, identified with Parvati in this context). In some scriptures, sage Kashyapa is considered to be her father, rather than Shiva. Manasa is depicted as kind to her devotees, but harsh to people who refused to worship her. Denied full godhead by her mixed parentage, Manasa’s aim was to fully establish her authority as a goddess and to acquire steadfast human devotees.With the Manasa puja on Wednesday, festivity begins across Tripura as Bengali’s greatest festival Durga puja is knocking at the door.
