Deodhani Festival

The Deodhani Festival is a significant annual religious and cultural celebration in Assam, India, dedicated to Goddess Manasa, the Hindu deity associated with snakes, fertility, and prosperity. For 2026, the three-day festival is scheduled from August 17 to August 19, taking place at the renowned Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. It is traditionally celebrated during the Shukla Paksha Navami and Dashami of the Assamese month of Bhado.

A central highlight of the festival is the performance by Deodhas, male devotees believed to enter a divine trance under the blessings of Goddess Manasa and other deities like Jaydurga, Bhadra Durga, Shiva, and Ganesha. These Deodhas engage in energetic ritual dances, often carrying weapons, to the rhythmic beats of traditional drums and cymbals, showcasing acts of divine possession.

The festival also incorporates the recitation of the Manasa Kavya, a medieval Assamese literary work that narrates the legends of Goddess Manasa and the tale of Behula and Lakhindar. Beyond its religious rituals, Deodhani Festival is a vibrant showcase of Assam's rich folk traditions, music, and spiritual practices, attracting thousands of pilgrims and tourists who come to witness the colourful celebrations. The Kamakhya Temple itself, located atop Nilachal Hills, is one of India's most revered pilgrimage sites and a Shakti Peetha, unique for worshipping a naturally formed yoni-shaped stone symbolizing feminine power.