The ________ festival, in which the serpent goddess Mansa is worshipped, is celebrated in some parts of Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand in India.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is option 3 i.e. Bihula.
The Bihula (or Bishahari Puja) festival is a prominent regional celebration in parts of Bengal, Bihar (especially the Anga region around Bhagalpur), and Jharkhand. It is dedicated to the worship of the serpent goddess Mansa, who is revered for protection against snakebites, as well as for fertility and prosperity. The festival often involves the recitation and dramatization of the Manasamangal Kavya, which narrates the legendary story of a woman named Behula and her devotion to save her husband's life from the wrath of Mansa.
Other Options
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Kumbh: This is a major Hindu pilgrimage celebrated approximately every 12 years at one of four sites (Haridwar, Prayagraj, Nashik, or Ujjain). It is a mass sacred bathing event centered on the holy rivers and is not specifically for the worship of the serpent goddess Mansa.
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Ambubasi: This is an annual Hindu mela (gathering) celebrated at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam. It marks the annual menstruation cycle of Goddess Kamakhya, the Mother Shakti, and has no direct link to the worship of Mansa in the mentioned regions.
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Matasya: There is no well-known major Hindu festival by the name 'Matasya'. The word is related to "fish" or the first Avatar of Lord Vishnu (Matsya Avatar), but it does not denote a major festival dedicated to the serpent goddess Mansa.