THE VILLAGES OF 'FRIENDLY SNAKES'
  
Bardhaman Dot Com News Bureau
Burdwan, 20 June 04 :
During the monsoon, when increase of death toll among rural villagers due to snakebite is a common feature, one will be astonished to experience a rare phenomenon in seven villages under the Bhatar block in this district. For more than the last 500 years, seven villages of Bhatar, mainly Posla, Palsana, Musuri has become a landmark for worshiping the snake deity "Jhankeshwari". The mythology derives from the famous 'Behula Lakhindar' story. The name Jhankeshwari derives from the jhankar or rattle of the bangles and ornaments of sati Behula after the snake goddess, Mansha was defeated by her worship and lost her capability of poisoning. Manasha requested Behula to return her venom in exchange of the life of her husband, Laxhindar. Behula gave back her poison but imposed a condition that, she will not use it against the villagers of these seven villagers. The villagers of Posla, Palsana and Musuri believe that these are villages, which are exempted from the venom effect of snakebite. 

The miracle was founded when visited the village. Villagers claim that, although two hundred and fifty two people have received snakebite, but there is not a single record of death due to it. Snake and human lives side by side in this village, without harming each other which is a rare scene. Snakes are treated like any other pets in these villages. Children were seen to play with venomous snakes. Any guest visiting these villages are often shocked & traumatized to see snakes roaming freely in the kitchens, gardens, bedrooms and stables of their hosts. Although sometimes the snakes bite the ducks or chickens, they are never reported to bite cattle. 

A big festival is organised to worship the goddess during the 'nag panchami tithi' every year with glory and pomp. Thousands of villagers and visitors attend this festival. The idol of Jhankeswari is a huge snake made of brass. An idol of shiv also adorn the temple. Not only during the puja days, but the villagers also offer milk to the snakes regularly. Experts 

from Kolkata had also visited the villages earlier to find the snakes are mainly venomous species like cobra and krait. When the experts requested the villagers to handover a snake to them for further studies, the villagers declined even at the promise that the snake will be returned unharmed after the study. 

The miracle remains unexposed and the villagers remain under mystery & belief at probably the only natural inhabited snake sanctuary on the face of earth.