Village empties for a day as residents head to VTR forests

Bettiah: Residents of Naurangiya village in Bagaha, West Champaran, on Saturday observed a striking annual tradition on the Navami of the Baisakh month, leaving their homes behind and retreating into nearby forests for nearly 12 hours, transforming the settlement into a silent, deserted expanse.

The ritual is observed mainly by the Tharu community. On this day, the entire village — people and livestock alike — is vacated. Houses are left unlocked, yet no incidents of theft are reported, lending an air of quiet mystique to the abandoned lanes.

Locals believe the practice is meant to appease a deity and shield the village from calamities. Oral accounts trace its origin to a time when the area was repeatedly struck by epidemics, fires and natural disasters, leaving the community in distress.

Maheshwar Kaji, a resident of Naurangiya, said, “This tradition is meant to seek relief from the wrath of the deity. It is believed that in the past, epidemics were common in the village, fire incidents occurred frequently, and diseases like smallpox and cholera were widespread. Natural calamities caused heavy damage every year. Then a saint, after deep meditation, instructed the villagers to adopt this practice. As a result, people vacate the village and go to Bhajni Kutti, located in the forests of the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, where they spend the day cooking and eating. The atmosphere in the forest resembles a picnic.”

Another belief associated with the tradition speaks of a divine vision experienced by a local saint.

Jitan Bhagat, a priest at Bhajni Kutti in VTR, said, “Baba Paramhans, who lived here, once saw the goddess in a dream. She instructed him that to free the village from suffering, all residents must leave the village and move into the forest on Navami. Since then, this tradition has continued uninterrupted.”

On the designated day, villagers move towards Bhajni Kutti inside the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, where they spend the day offering prayers and participating in what resembles a community fair. After about 12 hours, the ritual concludes, and the village gradually comes back to life as residents return to their homes.
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