CM Himanta visits Maa Manasa Mandir in Guwahati, pledges to complete pending works
Synopsis
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Shri Shri Maa Manasa Mandir in Guwahati on 14 August 2026, paid his respects, highlighted Ojapali and Deudhani as living cultural heritage, and pledged to complete the temple's unfinished infrastructure works.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Shri Shri Maa Manasa Mandir in Guwahati on 14 August 2026 for darshan and puja-archana.
Maa Manasa is worshipped across multiple communities in Assam as the serpent deity and goddess who neutralises poison.
Folk traditions Ojapali and Deudhani , linked to Manasa Puja, were highlighted by the CM as integral to Assam's cultural heritage.
The CM pledged that pending basic infrastructure works at the temple would be completed soon.
The visit reflects the state government's public engagement with Assam's religious and folk cultural traditions.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Shri Shri Maa Manasa Mandir in Guwahati on Friday, 14 August 2026, offering darshan and puja-archana at the temple — and announcing that its incomplete foundational works would be finished soon.
Posting in Hindi, the Chief Minister wrote: 'असम में विभिन्न समुदायों में माँ मनसा को विषहरी एवं नागदेवी के रूप में पूजा जाता है' — 'In Assam, Maa Manasa is worshipped across various communities as the goddess who neutralises poison and as the serpent deity.' He added that folk traditions associated with Manasa Puja, such as Ojapali and Deudhani, are an inseparable part of the state's cultural heritage.
Manasa across Assam's communities
Maa Manasa, the serpent goddess of the Hindu tradition, holds a distinctive place in Assam's religious landscape. Her worship cuts across community lines — a fact the Chief Minister underscored by framing the visit as a recognition of shared cultural identity rather than a single-community observance.
The Ojapali and Deudhani folk forms are among Assam's most distinctive performative traditions. Ojapali is a narrative singing style, often performed to recount the Manasa Mangal — the mythological story of the goddess — while Deudhani involves a ritualistic dance performed by women believed to be possessed by the deity. Both traditions have deep roots in the Brahmaputra valley's rural life.
The unfinished temple and the CM's pledge
Beyond the spiritual visit, Sarma flagged a practical commitment: the basic infrastructure works at the Shri Shri Maa Manasa Mandir remain incomplete, and he pledged these would be wrapped up 'soon.' The announcement signals state-level attention to the temple's development, though a specific timeline was not stated.
Such visits are part of a broader pattern of the Chief Minister engaging publicly with Assam's religious and cultural sites — reinforcing both community connect and the state government's role as a steward of local heritage.
For the thousands of devotees who visit the Guwahati temple, especially around the Manasa Puja season, the pledge to complete the temple's foundational works will be the line that matters most.
Point of View
Not a single group. The simultaneous pledge on temple infrastructure adds a governance dimension to what might otherwise read as a purely ceremonial outing. Ahead of any electoral cycle in the North-East, such gestures at well-known religious sites serve as soft political capital. The invocation of Ojapali and Deudhani also positions the BJP-led state government as a custodian of Assam's intangible cultural heritage — a space it has increasingly sought to occupy.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Maa Manasa and why is she important in Assam?
Maa Manasa is the Hindu serpent goddess, worshipped as the deity who neutralises poison and protects against snakebite. In Assam, she is revered across multiple communities and is central to the Manasa Puja festival, which is accompanied by folk traditions such as Ojapali and Deudhani.
What are Ojapali and Deudhani traditions in Assam?
Ojapali is a traditional narrative singing style used to recount mythological stories, including the Manasa Mangal. Deudhani is a ritualistic dance performed by women in a state of devotional trance. Both are associated with Manasa Puja and are recognised as part of Assam's intangible cultural heritage.
Where is the Shri Shri Maa Manasa Mandir located?
The Shri Shri Maa Manasa Mandir is located in Guwahati, the largest city of Assam.
What did CM Himanta Biswa Sarma announce at the Maa Manasa Mandir?
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on 14 August 2026 that the incomplete basic infrastructure works at the Shri Shri Maa Manasa Mandir in Guwahati would be completed soon.
Why does CM Himanta Biswa Sarma visit religious sites in Assam?
As Chief Minister, Sarma regularly visits religious and cultural sites across Assam as part of his public engagement, often using such occasions to acknowledge community traditions and announce government support for local heritage and infrastructure.
