Bankura's Unique Puffed Rice Festival: A Celebration of Community and Tradition

• Pukhuriya village in Simlapal Block, Bankura district, hosts the unique 'Margarisini Mela', a fair centered around puffed rice.
• Attendees bring puffed rice from home, while other accompaniments like chops, ghugni, chanachur, and coconut are provided at the fair.
• The fair emphasizes communal eating of puffed rice to strengthen social bonds and camaraderie among villagers.
• The tradition is centuries old, stemming from a divine instruction in a dream by the village deity, Margarisini Devi.
• Held for three days starting from Makar Sankranti, the fair combines folk belief, religious ritual, and social gathering.

Why It Matters: Bankura's Margarisini Mela is a unique puffed rice festival fostering community spirit and ancient traditions.