Assam: Wild mushroom mistaken for 'Naag Devta' worshiped in Sonitpur village

In the remote village of Amloga, under Bamunjuli in Chariduwar revenue circle of Assam’s Sonitpur district, a curious incident has once again highlighted the persistent grip of superstition in the state’s interiors. It began innocuously enough when a man named Tilak Koch stumbled upon a peculiar, snake-like shape protruding from a damp patch in his backyard. What he believed was a remarkable discovery soon turned his home into an impromptu pilgrimage site, as villagers flocked to seek blessings from what they perceived as a divine snake deity.

The story unfolded last Monday when Tilak, while clearing an overgrown nest in his backyard, noticed the unusual shape. Word spread like wildfire, and before long, throngs of people gathered, prostrating and offering prayers to the so-called deity. Devotees lit incense sticks, chanted prayers, and sought blessings, convinced that the snake-like form was a harbinger of prosperity and well-being.

However, the fervor surrounding this newfound deity was short-lived. Shubham Roy, an assistant lecturer at Rangapara College, along with students and experts from the college’s botany department, arrived to investigate the phenomenon. Their conclusion was both simple and scientifically sound: the revered “snake deity” was, in fact, a wild mushroom.

According to the Department of Botany at Rangapara College, the snake-like mushroom found in Tilak’s backyard is one of the many species of fungi that thrive in damp and humid conditions, such as those prevalent in Assam. Over the past year, the department has identified and documented around 40 different mushroom species as part of its ongoing research. The specific mushroom in question, with its elongated and serpentine appearance, was identified as a naturally occurring but uncommon species.

Despite the scientific explanation, the incident sheds light on the deep-rooted superstitions that continue to influence rural communities in Assam. For many villagers, the appearance of the “snake deity” offered a sense of hope and spiritual reassurance in an otherwise uncertain world. The mushroom’s resemblance to a snake — a creature often revered in Indian mythology and folklore — likely fueled the collective belief in its divinity.

Such incidents are not uncommon in rural India, where natural phenomena are frequently interpreted through the lens of religion and superstition. From trees dripping with sap resembling tears to oddly shaped stones believed to house deities, the tendency to ascribe supernatural significance to the unknown persists in many parts of the country.