SOCIETY

Patna Ghost fair draws large number of people

     Patna: Hundreds of people took part in a recently held ghost fair on the occasion of "Kartik Poornima". Individuals suspected of being under ghosts' shadow were brought by their family to show them to the witchcraft doctors. The fair was held in the premises of the District Magistrate situated on the banks of River Ganga in Patna. At this ghost busting fair, the villagers coming from far off villages believed their afflicted family members could only be cured by the blessings or cure suggested by the "Babas" or, the witchcraft doctors. "If we fall ill, we go to the doctor but when it is case of some spirits, we come here. This benefits us. If any evil spirit overpowers us, we tell it to the ghost buster and he takes care of the spirit," said Rajmani, a person who deems to be possessed. "He (ghost buster) is a doctor. We come here with hope and go back home with no troubles. He doesn't ask us to do much. He just gives us rice grain and some sacred food (Prasad) in the name of the almighty God," said Meena Devi, another believer in spirits. Whereas the witchcraft doctors claim they have developed powers to treat the affected patients. "After taking God's name, I just give rice grain to people and bless them. After that they get cured," said Budhan Yadav, a ghost buster. Belief in ghosts is widespread in various rural parts of Bihar. People visiting such ghost fairs believe exorcism is the only remedy for the possessed family members.
-Nov 8, 2006

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