Patna: A 17-year-old girl in Vaishali district has drawn crowds during Durga Puja for an unusual religious ritual in which she is lying on a bed of nails with a kalash on her chest and a sword in her hand.Nisha Kumari, a resident of Bajitpur Chakasturi village under Sahdei Buzurg block, began the ritual on the first day of Puja. The practice is scheduled to continue until Navami, with Nisha appearing in the attire of Goddess Kali.According to her family, a specially designed wooden board was prepared using around 35 kg of nails, each approximately 2.5 inches long. Villagers said four people took four days to make the bed. Nisha claimed she feels no pain while lying on the nails.Nisha claimed she had a dream after the month of Shrawan in which she saw Goddess Kali, who, according to her, told her she would have to undergo a test if she wished to attain the deity. She said she decided to perform the ritual as a test of her faith, courage and patience. “I want to continue worshipping and devoting myself to Goddess Kali,” she said.Her father, Prakash Mallik, said Nisha had been unwell for around one-and-a-half years. The family consulted several doctors and spent lakhs of rupees on medicines and treatment, but her health did not improve as expected. He added that she had been interested in religious practices since childhood.The ritual has drawn devotees and curious visitors from the village and other districts. The influx has affected movement along the village’s narrow roads, prompting the family to appeal to visitors to maintain calm and discipline.
