The Deodhani Festival is a traditional religious festival of Assam, India, known for its spiritual trance dance performed in honor of the serpent goddess Manasa — the goddess of snakes and fertility. It is believed to date back several centuries, rooted in ancient Shakti (goddess) worship traditions of Assam. This is celebrated at Kamakhya Temple, Guwahati mostly in mid-August, during the Shravan month according to the Hindu lunar calendar.
The highlight is the Deodhani Nritya, a ritualistic dance where men believed to be possessed by the goddess perform in a trance. The dancers are called Deodhanis and are accompanied by traditional instruments like the drum (khol) and cymbals (taal). The performance symbolizes a spiritual connection — as if the goddess herself dances through the devotee. Deodhanis often go through fasting and purification rituals before the performance. During the dance, they may perform acts of endurance or symbolic sacrifice, believed to show divine power and protection. It’s both a religious and cultural event, blending devotion, folklore, and local tradition. Beyond worship, Deodhani represents Assam’s indigenous spirituality — where dance and music serve as a bridge between humans and the divine. It’s often considered a living example of pre-Vedic animistic traditions that merged with later Hindu beliefs.
Here I am sharing a number of photos I took during the festival.
