Tortoise on offer

Tortorise being offered for worship of Goddess Keshai Khaiti by Lalung tribals at Keshai khaiti in Nagaon district of Assam on April 26, 2009. It is said that a Keshai Khaity Mandir was established by the forefathers of the Lalungs in 1266 AD. From then onwards the ritual is followed every year in the month of April (Bohag). Only male members of the community can take part in the worship. Women can be spectators from a distance. It is believed that Goddess Keshai Khaity is also known as Kalika, the goddes of power and strenghth who accepts blood from her devotees. So the chief priest (Bor Deuri) offers the blood of fowls, hens, pigeons and finally a tortoise, the main item of the worship (Puja). More than 200 birds collected from each family were sacrificed.

Camera: Not mentioned

[Image uploaded on 28 April 2009 by Hemanta Kumar Nath.]

[First published: 28 April 2009 | Last updated: 28 April 2009.]

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Parts of the old website, especially the extremely popular dams issue, have been resurrected. Other archived material will be uploaded here as and when I am able to salvage those. If at all.

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