From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The ambience in the famous Kamakhya Temple atop Nilachal Hills here is now being rented with sound of drum beats and chanting of hymns by priests in view of three-day annual Devaddhvani or Deohdani dance festival, that forms the core of rituals related to worship of Manasa Devi (Serpentine Goddess).
A source in the temple committee informed that this annual ritual of Deodhani dance festival that dates centuries back is held for three days during the end of Assamese month of Shaon and at the beginning of Bhada month (during August) every year where Deodhas (temple dancers) dance like men possessed by a spirit.
A large number of devotees numbering to several thousands have converged at the temple premises from different parts of the state and the country to attend the Deodhani dance festival seeped in ancient religious culture of this part of the country.
About twenty Deodhas or temple dancers are participating in this year’s festival.
These Deodhas or temple dancers who perform the inspired dance called Deodhani are a class by themselves, drawn from the laity.
They are not included among the Kamakhya temple priesthood, nor do they enjoy any special privileges.
Inspiration come to them a month before the festival. It is believed, they are visited by the gods or goddesses.
Each god or goddess has his or her won Deodha who is also called as Janki or ghora.
The Assamese work Janki means spiritual inspiration or a state of being possessed by a spirit. So Janki may mean one who is possessed by a god or goddess.
Ghora means the horse the god or goddess rides on.
For a month, a Janki lives the life of piety and purity, eats very little, likes to stay at lonely places.
As soon as he hears the sounds of drums and Kali (a kind of pipe) he rushes out of his place to dance his divine dance.
They are even prepared by their gurus (veterans who used to be deodhas once)
On the first day of Manasa puja, all Deodhas dance in the temple of Lord Shiva in Kamakhya Temple premises whole Janki of Lord Shiva (Mahadeva) leading the dance.
Drawn by the sounds of drum and Kali and after dancing like men possessed by some spirit, the Deodhads (temple dancers) will dress themselves like their respective deities, wear garlands similar to those of the deities and pay obeisance to the respective shrines while temple priests guide and help them in carrying out all these rituals.
It is firmly believed that Deodhas as this hours acquire the capacity of predicting the future of people, the society and the country.
Devotees gather for the occasion and offer pigeons, goats, clothes etc., to get their future read by Deodhas.
The possessed Deodhas even dance over upturned choppers and drink the blood of pigeons or goats. They eat whatever is offered by devotees.
When they dance, these temple dancers hold swords, sticks or shields in their hands. They dance all through the night during these three days of festival. After the festival is over Deodhas remain in the state of possessed till the end of Assamese Bhada month (on September 16).
